The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced additional flexibilities will be granted related to the impact of the 2022 Abbott recall of several powder infant formulas provided through the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in a Feb. 23 news release.
The Food and Nutrition Service is recommending the WIC agencies in affected areas work to ensure affected people get to purchase the products they need.
"In response to the recall, USDA Food and Nutrition Service is strongly encouraging WIC agencies in affected states, territories and tribal nations to take immediate action to ensure that WIC participants can exchange their recalled baby formula and can use WIC benefits to purchase product that has not been recalled," the release states. "FNS has offered WIC agencies the opportunity to request waivers of certain WIC regulations to offer maximum flexibility to address this issue."
Waivers, including for medical documentation, maximum monthly allowance and vendor exchanges, will be released under the authority provided by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, according to the release.
“We are committed to providing WIC participants with access to a variety of safe and healthy foods, including infant formula,” said Cindy Long, FNS administrator. “We applaud the WIC community’s quick response to ensure they have the flexibilities needed to quickly respond to the COVID-19-related nationwide supply chain issues that have been exacerbated by this recall.”
Reminders have been issued in regard to returns and exchanges of the recalled product, per the release.
