Is Target Up and Up Formula discontinued or only there is a shortage of this? The scarcity of infant formula is spreading concern across the nation. Hence, significant merchants are now restricting how much baby formula customers may purchase. Customers can only buy a certain amount of infant formula at a time at some retailers, including CVS, Walgreens, and Target.
Almost all companies produce Target Up-and-Up baby formula, including store brands for Walmart (Parent’s Choice), Target (Up-and-Up), Walgreens (Well Beginnings), Kroger (Comforts for Baby), and others. They are all manufactured by the same company, Perrigo Nutritionals.
Target operates approximately 1,900 stores in the United States. The U.S. infant formula shortage is due in part to the reopening of an Abbott Laboratories plant that produced specialty formulas.
Abbott Nutrition is the nation’s largest infant formula manufacturer. It recalled its popular Similac powder and two lines of customized formula nearly 10 months ago. It shuts down one of its plants due to bacterial contamination. The shutdown, which occurred during a pandemic, impacted supply chain issues in the United States. Then it rapidly turned into a nationwide formula supply crisis.
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Is Target up and up formula out of stock?
Across the country, grocery store racks were running out of baby formulas. The parents, especially those living in rural and low-income areas, looked for ways to feed their babies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States released new guidance that will make importing formula from other nations easier and assist domestic manufacturers in entering the market.
Abbott Nutrition recalled specific lots of Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered formulas, along with one lot of the medical formula Similac PM 60/40, in February 2022. Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan, plant produced all of the recalled formulas.
The Food and Drug Administration is exploring links among infants who became ill with Cronobacter sakazakii and who consumed powdered formula produced at the same Abbott manufacturing plant.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a bacterium that can affect dry foods. This includes powdered infant formula, which can cause serious illness in babies, particularly newborns. Cronobacter infections in babies are uncommon, but they can be fatal.
Infant formula manufactured in the U.S. must undergo testing for Cronobacter and Salmonella. Cronobacter was not found in any of Abbott’s infant formulas, but it was found in a “non-product contact area” at the Abbott production facility, according to a press release.
Despite months of empty store shelves, the United States is still facing a countrywide shortage of baby formula. As per market research firm Information Resources, Inc., more than 20% of formula products were out of stock in the six weeks before July 24. This could be why the Target up and up formula is out of stock.
Why is Target out of the formula?
According to the New York Times, Target also enforces purchase constraints on baby formulas. This includes only online sales and with no limits in-store. A spokesperson said, “We’re still working with our baby formula distributors to resolve this issue, and we sincerely apologize for this.”
The stoppage of a potent formula manufacturing facility owned by Chicago-based Abbott Labs in Sturgis, Michigan, has contributed to the shortage. The shutdown, in turn, resulted from a federal investigation into findings of contaminated products at the facility, which may have contributed to infant deaths.
Target Up and Up Formula shortage
Baby formula shortages result from “rising prices, supply chain shortfalls, and product recalls,” according to Datasembly founder and CEO Ben Reich in a press release. The total supply has indeed increased. According to industry insiders, the shortfall is more spotty, depending on location and specific product.
According to Datasembly, a retail data company, 31% of baby formula goods were out of stock across the United States in early April. Out-of-stock rates exceed 40% in 7 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Montana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. Manufacturers claim to be at maximum capacity but cannot meet the current demand.
According to Reuters, the Abbott plant reopened and restarted manufacturing on July 1. On July 20, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that the countrywide shortage “was a deficit that’s going to require some time to solve.”
According to the FDA, the situation is not nearly as bad as it was during the peak of the infant formula shortage when more than 40% of all formulas were unavailable across the country. On November 20, approximately 12.5% of formula baby powder was out of stock nationwide. According to data from IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm, this is extremely close to pre-shortage levels.
Does the target take back formulas?
Target will accept returns of baby formula in their shops beginning in 2022, but customers will only be able to do so for a limited time. Target accepts returns for all regular clients up to 90
Days from the date of purchase. However, all Target Circle and Red Card members have a 120-day return window from the initial purchase date.
Target has some restrictions that must be followed when returning baby formula to their stores. One of them is to have the baby formula restored to the Target store unopened and unused. Otherwise, customers will receive a partial refund for their return. Furthermore, if a customer returns baby formula to Target without a valid invoice for the purchase, the store will pay the customer back with store credit rather than cash.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mentioned that all retail stores could accept returns of baby formula. They fall under the category of food products, and returns are permitted. Finally, before returning the baby formula to the shop, you can contact the Target store or any other retail chain.
Conclusion
Be aware that purchasing specific imported European formulas may pose several risks. “Everyone heard about the FDA recall quickly,” Young notes, “but this doesn’t necessarily be the case in the U.S. if there’s a recall of European formula.” Labeling requirements differ between U.S. and European formulas.
In the United States, a ” hypoallergenic ” formula must contain only completely broken-down milk proteins. A hypoallergenic formula in Europe may comprise both intact and broken-down proteins. The intact proteins in a recipe may cause an allergic reaction in a baby with a milk-protein allergy and should not be used as an alternative to a hypoallergenic U.S. formula.
In a news release, Ben Reich, the founder and CEO of Datasembly, stated that “inflation, supply chain interruptions, and product recalls have generated unforeseen volatility in baby formula.”. “We anticipate that these situations will continue to impact the baby formula category significantly.”
References:
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/ local/walgreens-target-place-limits-on-baby-formula-due-to-supply-shortages/2827782/
https://www.thesuperficial.com/ target-baby-formula-return-policy-explained/
https://www.today.com/ parents/parents/ everything-need-know-baby-formula-shortage-rcna15613
https://www.inquirer.com/ health/baby-formula-shortages-explanation-20221201.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/02/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-us-baby-formula-shortage.html
