Davids Hosts Facebook Live with Local Pediatrician on Formula Shortage

Today, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a Facebook Live conversation on the infant formula shortage and shared resources to ensure families have convenient access to safe and affordable formula. Davids was joined by Dr. Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in Overland Park, who shared that families should speak to a pediatrician and have caution when deciding on an alternative form of nutrition for their child. Davids appeared on Fox4 KC last week to speak on this issue and share a new webpage with resources for families.

"When I was a baby, I was fed specialized formula. If these shortages were happening then, I can only imagine how much stress this would've caused my mom, a single mother working full-time," said Davids. "I'm working to fix this crisis and get formula back on shelves safely and efficiently so families in Kansas' Third District and around the country can stop worrying about how they will feed their children. For folks needing help right now, my team is here for you. Visit my website to find available resources or please reach out to my office."

Watch the Facebook Live conversation with Rep. Davids and Dr. Natasha Burgert.

Watch the Facebook Live conversation with Rep. Davids and Dr. Natasha Burgert.

"There are parents in our Kansas community waking up and wondering how they're going to feed their baby," said Burgert. "As a result, this infant formula shortage is forcing some families to make dangerous choices for their infant's nutrition. If you find yourself unable to find safe and healthy food for your baby, reach out to your pediatrician or health care provider first. There are ways we can help."

Davids is working to get formula back on grocery store shelves efficiently and safely. Last week, she voted for new legislation to help address this crisis -- the Infant Supplemental Appropriations Act and the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022.

The Infant Supplemental Appropriations Act would provide the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the necessary resources to address this supply chain problem and strengthen our ability to prevent disruptions like this in the future. The Access to Baby Formula Act would ensure low-income families can continue purchasing safe infant formula with their WIC benefits during a crisis, such as a supply chain disruption or public health emergency.

Davids also pushed the White House to work with manufacturers to increase output, expedite approvals on manufacturing and import requirements, facilitate more targeted retail distributions, and allow disbursement of additional nutrition products when medically necessary.

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