The Abbott Nutrition factory in Sturgis, Michigan shut down due to its links to the death of two children has reopened after the company put into place policies as part of a consent decree with the federal government, the Washington Post reports.
The reopening of the plant, which produces most of the baby formula Similac and other specialty baby formulas for infants with specific dietary issues, will greatly ease the baby formula shortage many parts of the United States are experiencing.
Two children died and at least two others were sickened by a bacterial infection; all four children used formula from the plant. Upon inspection of the plant, inspectors did not find the source of that specific bacteria, but they found other bacteria and overall unhygienic conditions at the plant and ordered it shut down.
The private industries that produce baby formula in the United States could not compensate for the loss of production from this one factory, leading to shortages across the US. Exacerbating the shortage, the Trump administration had implemented a trade war that prevented the quick importation of baby formula from Canada and other foreign sources, forcing the Biden Administration to step in and procure formula from other nations.
The consent decree requires Abbott to employ an independent inspector to oversee the facility and make sure the factory is running according to code.