Feds Pay for Accurate Baby Formula Data

June 28, 2022
As the U.S. continues to grapple with a shortage of baby formula, the FDA is paying NielsenIQ to get a more complete picture of the situation.

As the U.S. continues to grapple with a shortage of baby formula, the FDA is paying NielsenIQ to get a more complete picture of the situation.

The FDA awarded NielsenIQ, a leading sales data service, $70,000 for four months of retail sales information. The contract was first reported in Politico and subsequently confirmed by the FDA.

The Biden administration is trying to put a lid on what has become a severe political liability, but it has been handicapped by incomplete data. It had been trying to cobble together a picture of the shortage from various sources, including IRI data and self-reporting by formula processors. But the government can’t compel manufacturers to release sales figures, and IRA data only applies nationwide; it doesn’t give a picture of the severity by region.

The formula shortage started when the FDA shut down an Abbott Laboratories plant in January following several illnesses among infants who had consumed formula made there. The situation was complicated when the plant reopened briefly earlier this month, only to shut down a couple of weeks later due to stormwater flooding.

Sponsored Recommendations

Kaeser is the world’s leading air systems specialist and offers a full range of compressed air solutions for almost any application. From industrial compress...
Take a moment to see the scope of Kaeser's commitment to innovative system designs that guarantee ultra-reliable compressed air, easy maintenance, and greater efficiency.
Ventilation has a huge impact on the ambient temperature in the compressor room and is often the missing link to temperature regulation issues. Here are four factors to consider...
Learn how to get a smart, reliable, energy-efficient compressed air system delivered in a turnkey, weatherproof and temperature-controlled enclosure that needs little or no onsite...