Discendo Vox posted:

Lotsa layers here; a summary follows. At the outset, note because of exactly this sort of microbiological contamination issue, infant formula is one of the most heavily regulated food areas. Conversely, FDA's been able to do very little inspection work during Covid (and is of course incredibly, stupidly underfunded).

1. The shortage is caused by a combination of supply chain issues, the recall, and layers of bullshittery by Abbott, the manufacturer. FDA's actual recall was for a relatively small set of brands/products (though still enough for it to cause problems), and didn't include any of the real specialty medical food products that Abbott is the exclusive manufacturer of, and which are the most pressing supply issue.

2. The degree of general infant formula shortage appears to be getting magnified by anti-regulation groups like Cato and the right wing, which are trying to blame this on Biden, somehow. Stats reporting on actual shortage rates are pretty mixed, and as above, it's unclear how much is supply chain issues and how much is the recall.

3. Abbott performed some separate voluntary recalls before the formal recall occurred. "Voluntary" here means FDA told them to issue the recalls, which is a practice the agency usually follows first to let companies save face and let the agency save money on enforcement actions and defending against lawsuits from the companies.

4. Abbott is blaming the FDA recall for all shortages of all product lines, in part by taking advantage of how the agency has very little ability to legally talk about the details of an ongoing investigation. I can't actually tell if production has halted on all of the products being tied to the recall or not. It's possible that after the initial recall, Abbott discovered that their lovely practices were affecting a much broader set of products, which would explain why there's shortages of these other products.

5. FDA's being blamed for all this, but you can see how they're in an impossible bind: they're being blamed for both restricting access to the formula with all their damned safety regs, and for not enforcing the regulations harder/keeping the products safe.

6. FDA ran a routine inspection of the facility last fall. This resulted in warnings about needing to improve bacterial infection monitoring and safeguards, but no serious disciplinary action. According to a whistleblower, Abbott was manipulating or misrepresenting their safety practices during the inspection, complete with some "I can't believe they fell for it!" correspondence.

7. FDA isn't coming out of this clean, either- the whistleblower warning was supposedly sent around to a few people at FDA last year, before the outbreak and deaths, and it's not clear the agency was acting on it. From what indirect coverage I've seen, the warning was accurate and serious, but it looks like the sender sent it direct to random officials rather than through the proper channels, which may be why it wasn't followed up on fast (if at all).

8. An additional layer of messiness is that the whistleblower warning coverage is...very suspiciously timed. There's been a recent set of moves to promote the idea that the food division of FDA is badly organized (true) and should instead be structured entirely under a particular executive at the agency (a guy with deep industry ties and an advocate for things like "let's privatize inspections!" and "supply chain tracing on the blockchain!"). The main thrust of this push was a big article in Politico a few weeks back. I discuss the issues with the article here. Politico also got oddly exclusive, detailed reporting on the whistleblower, who supposedly sent their information to every one of this guy's rivals, but not him.

9. The first coverage of the whistleblower from Politico (which is where I got the content that made the warnings look accurate and serious) immediately tried to tie it to this whole effort to promote the exec. All the subsequent articles about the shortage/recall dropped that angle, which suggests the situation's changed behind the scenes somehow.

Korthal posted:

I work for WIC, so here's what I have gleaned. The factory that produces all the Alimentum and some other formulas shut down because there were reports that two infants died from salmonella. No formula that was sealed had been found with any contamination, but they recalled it all just in case. Alimentum is a gross formula for babies (and some adults) who are allergic to everything. It's actually kind of gross, because all the proteins and carbs are predigested so it actually smells like vomit. Anyways, this meant that all the parents who had this ultra specialized formula had to turn to Enfamil's Nutramegin. Unfortunately there wasn't enough Nutramegin, and then some rumors started that there was a shortage of all formula. Remember Toilet Paper in 2020? Panic buying has to be the #1 reason for the shortage.

Apple Pie Hubbub posted:

2

Help Im Alive posted:

what the

Brawnfire posted:

If Stantis'd ever actually worked

Technowolf posted:

Korthal posted:

I work for WIC, so here's what I have gleaned. The factory that produces all the Alimentum and some other formulas shut down because there were reports that two infants died from salmonella. No formula that was sealed had been found with any contamination, but they recalled it all just in case. Alimentum is a gross formula for babies (and some adults) who are allergic to everything. It's actually kind of gross, because all the proteins and carbs are predigested so it actually smells like vomit. Anyways, this meant that all the parents who had this ultra specialized formula had to turn to Enfamil's Nutramegin. Unfortunately there wasn't enough Nutramegin, and then some rumors started that there was a shortage of all formula. Remember Toilet Paper in 2020? Panic buying has to be the #1 reason for the shortage.

Angepain posted:

also holy poo poo kirschen what the gently caress made you think drawing a dead journalist like that was a good idea

Epic High Five posted:

Why's he even feel the need to claim it wasn't the IDF that shot her? Like they themselves haven't even stated as much as far as I've seen and they literally just raided her funeral. Kirschen's a real POS out loud whenever it's a day he can't just copy+paste a drawing of himself dancing because it's a holiday

Tina Garrison posted:

AMERICAN BABIES GO HUNGRY AS PELOSI SENDS 40 BILLION TO UKRAINE

Nancy Pelosi’s House voted to send Ukraine 40 billion dollars in aid. Only 57 congress members voted against the bill. This shows us what Congress thinks of the American people and our country. America comes last.

Apparently, American babies come last, too.

Part of the aid package included sending baby formula to Ukraine while store shelves in America remain bare. There are also reports of pallets of baby formula stacked up at our southern border waiting to be distributed to illegal alien mothers who need to feed their children.

Reports are starting to come out about an impending diesel shortage about to hit the east coast. American truckers will have no fuel to run their trucks, which means no deliveries and no products on the store shelves.

You think the incompetence of Joe Biden is causing all this? It’s not. He’s just a puppet. This has all been planned as part of the “Great Reset,” a way to destroy America from within.

You would think the Democrats would at least try to pretend they care about Americans with the midterms rapidly approaching, but they don’t. They are not even making an effort. The Democrats must be so confident in their ability to rig elections that they think they have the midterms in the bag. The American people know what the Democrats are up to and their eyes are wide open and watching. The midterms will be the most closely watched elections in American history. “2000 Mules,” the documentary released by Dinesh D’Sousa, is proof positive the 2020 election was stolen. The Democrat mules were caught red handed. They were tracked by cellular data and caught on video as they stuffed the ballot boxes with thousands of fraudulent ballots. The proof is undeniable and you would have to be a brainwashed Democrat cult member or a mainstream journalist (I repeat myself) not to believe the evidence.

Joe Biden has been the “Resident” for only one and a half years and not only do we have the highest inflation in 40 years, a possible World War III, skyrocketing gas prices, and a diesel fuel shortage—but a baby formula shortage as well?

How is this possible unless it was all planned? It sounds crazy and it IS crazy, but nevertheless it’s the reality we must now face.

Meanwhile, a leading manufacturer of formula, Abbott Laboratories, said that it is working to restart its manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan, after it was shut down amid a Food and Drug Administration investigation.

Biden’s FDA shut down a baby formula plant and now we do not have baby formula for American infants.The fat baby in the incredibly corrupt country of Ukraine guzzles up 40 billion in “aid” which is really a nice way of saying kick backs and money laundering.

There are no coincidences.

So when you hear hungry babies cry, think of Nancy Pelosi and her 25 thousand dollar ice cream freezer as well as her fat little Zelensky chugging down your tax payer dollars.

As of this posting, Senator Rand Paul is temporarily blocking the passage of the bill in the Senate.

Never forget they hate you…Never forgive!

Apple Pie Hubbub posted:

2

Brawnfire posted:

If Stantis'd ever actually worked for a campaign before, they might have some interesting conversations to draw from, humorous characters they've met or bizarre interactions. But this is good, too, I guess. I mean, it's not good, it's loving poo poo but

um

DalaranJ posted:

Nomination: Laziest NonGorrel

Fister Roboto posted:

Yeah they're called power lines you dipshit.

Pants Donkey posted:

Don’t listen to those chumps, Tina Garrison knows the real reason behind the shortage:


Some truly wild fetishes the Garrisons are into.

Nenonen posted:

I think you'd want a rechargeable battery for a car?

Epic High Five posted:

Oh yeah that's the one, it's probably not intellectually honest of me but I default to whatever the worst possible interpretation could be with this guy because, well, how often would I be wrong in doing so

Shugojin posted:

Hey, guess who isn't dead yet! Unfortunately!


https://twitter.com/drybonescartoon/status/1524819697774080002



Kellies nomination: Worst Overall

Pants Donkey posted:

Biden’s FDA shut down a baby formula plant and now we do not have baby formula for American infants.

Shugojin posted:

Hey, guess who isn't dead yet! Unfortunately!


https://twitter.com/drybonescartoon/status/1524819697774080002



Kellies nomination: Worst Overall

Syfe posted:

I love how none of these conservative cartoonists understand (acknowledge?) that what occurred to cause this was capitalism and greed, it's because of poor equipment maintenance at a facility that was allowing bacteria into their baby formula, needing to recall that and shut down their plant, but no, it's obviously Biden's policies.

Pants Donkey posted:

Indiana_Krom posted:

I think a bunch of the conservative responses to the baby formula shortage are disgusting. They blame Biden/FDA/etc and not the company for selling poisoned baby formula. Aren't these the same people pushing for a total ban of abortion, you'd think they would be similarly upset some company is negligently killing infants, but instead they are pissed at the government for stopping the factory from producing poisoned baby formula. Apparently a lot of conservatives just straight up stop giving a poo poo about the life and health of anyone as soon as they are out of the womb. Like as soon as a child takes their first breath conservatives switch from "precious life that must be protected" to "worthless drain on society that shouldn't be allowed to get any handouts from MY tax dollars!".

You would think I'd eventually grow numb to just how big a bunch of assholes conservatives are, but they seem to always find some new way to surprise me.

Indiana_Krom posted:

I think a bunch of the conservative responses to the baby formula shortage are disgusting. They blame Biden/FDA/etc and not the company for selling poisoned baby formula. Aren't these the same people pushing for a total ban of abortion, you'd think they would be similarly upset some company is negligently killing infants, but instead they are pissed at the government for stopping the factory from producing poisoned baby formula. Apparently a lot of conservatives just straight up stop giving a poo poo about the life and health of anyone as soon as they are out of the womb. Like as soon as a child takes their first breath conservatives switch from "precious life that must be protected" to "worthless drain on society that shouldn't be allowed to get any handouts from MY tax dollars!".

You would think I'd eventually grow numb to just how big a bunch of assholes conservatives are, but they seem to always find some new way to surprise me.

Help Im Alive posted:

Syfe posted:

I love how none of these conservative cartoonists understand (acknowledge?) that what occurred to cause this was capitalism and greed, it's because of poor equipment maintenance at a facility that was allowing bacteria into their baby formula, needing to recall that and shut down their plant, but no, it's obviously Biden's policies.

Cloud Potato posted:

Times:

Russia warns of ‘military-technical’ response if Finland joins Nato

quote:

Hunger Games: Mothers across America can’t find essential baby formula for their infants but there’s plenty stashed at the border.

SirSamVimes posted:

I know I keep saying this but KAL has such great art, even if they're fairly decorum poisoned.

I AM GRANDO posted:

They understand perfectly. They’re excited to use it as an opportunity to deliberately foment hatred of immigrants and democrats.

Discendo Vox posted:

I'd love to know what source they're getting this specific "stashed at the border" part of the infant formula attack from. It's a really weird place to draw a line of connection between the recall and immigration.

I AM GRANDO posted:

It’s because they want to create a false dilemma that links the emotion of concern for children with feelings of hatred for immigrants. It’s like how they’re always saying that homelessness people take resources from needy veterans. It redirects genuine concern toward handy targets and makes anyone trying to explain what’s really happening look like they hate pure white babies.

Raised By Birds posted:

Steve Kelley

Murdstone posted:

"Illegally." What law are they breaking, rear end in a top hat?