Robi Maddison Culture 06.10.2022 23:Jun PM EDT

Delta to Ship Baby Formula from UK to US Amidst Shortage

From June 20 to 24, Delta Cargo will deliver more than 212,000 pounds of infant formula to the U.S.

Delta Airlines Getty Images

(Photo : Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

Kendamil Baby Formula To Be Transported to the U.S.

Delta Air Lines Inc will fly the equivalent of more than 3.2 million 8-ounce bottles of baby formula to the U.S. over the course of 13 flights in support of Operation Fly Formula. From June 20 to 24, Delta will fly the Kendamil formula from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Boston Logan Airport (BOS) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Delta announced on its website.

Delta donated these Operation Fly Formula flights, according to the White House press release. The Kendamil Organic and Classic formula, which is available through Operation Fly Formula, will be distributed and sold at select U.S. retailers, as well as online.

Delta said that its cargo group is ready to assist with any additional shipments in support of Operation Fly Formula.

Operation Fly Formula

White House clarified that President Biden launched Operation Fly Formula in order to expedite the importation of safe infant formula and get more formula into stores as quickly as possible. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the General Services Administration (GSA) are working together as part of Operation Fly Formula to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards and get it to store shelves faster.

Delta, citing a White House press statement, said that the Operation Fly Formula has brought in the equivalent of 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of infant formula to the U.S. to date.

On June 9, Operation Fly Formula flights delivered 1.6 million bottle equivalents of Nestlé NAN SupremePro Stage 1 newborn formula to Texas, and a donated United Airlines flight delivered the first cargo of 3.7 million bottle equivalents of Kendamil infant formula to Virginia, the White House stated.

Separately, as per the news report of Reuters, citing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Abbott Laboratories will have 16.5 million bottles of its Similac infant formula ready to ship from Spain this month.

The administration did not disclose when the bottles would be sent into the U.S., but said it was looking into alternatives to get the product there "as quickly as possible."

What Is the Reason Behind the Baby Formula Shortage In The U.S.?

According to Reuters, the supplies are the latest in a series of Operation Fly Formula flights aimed at restocking U.S. shelves after Abbott, a major U.S. infant formula supplier, recalled its products earlier this year after a key manufacturing facility in Michigan was shut down.

"The bay formula shortage comes as Biden grapples with high inflation, gun violence and other issues before November congressional elections," the report added.