People Are In Desperate Need Of This One Grocery Item

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, grocery stores have been hit with item shortages left and right.

From cereal to meat, plenty of chains are left bare-shelved due to supply chain issues and shortages brought on by the pandemic.

Now, since an ongoing recall on infant formula, parents and caregivers are scrambling to find solutions. Store shelves are wiped clean—and some people are running out of options.

According to CNN, "For months, stores nationwide have struggled to stock enough baby formula. Manufacturers say they're producing at full capacity and are making more formula than ever before, but it's still not enough to meet current demand."

The ongoing recall of Abbott Nutrition powdered formulas includes certain batches of Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare due to potential bacterial contamination, including that of Salmonella.

The Food and Drug Administration advised parents not to buy or use certain batches, which puts many in a very tough spot when trying to provide nourishment for their babies.

Alimentum and EleCare are specialized formulas, both for infants with a lactose sensitivity. EleCare is given to infants and older children that have severe food allergies, gastrointestinal disorders and other conditions that may require tube feeding.

So when already hard-to-find formulas become recalled, what are parents to do?

Many are turning to online communities like Facebook to donate cans of unused, unopened formula products to those in need. In one instance, Sarah Ellis of Alexandria, Virginia, whose daughter's formula was recalled, had to drive to multiple stores just to find a single can of EleCare formula.

Now, the situation is "literally a life or death thing," she told CNN.

A spokesperson for Abbott Nutrition said in an email to CNN Business that the company is "increasing production at an FDA approved facility in Europe and air freighting product in."

The spokesperson also noted that the recall only impacts certain batches of formulas produced in its Sturgis, Michigan location, and said that no other products that Abbott Nutrition distributes had so far tested positive for Salmonella or other pathogens.

"Our other US plants are running at maximum capacity and we're converting some production of other liquid products to Similac," she said, adding that Abbott Nutrition "values the trust parents place in us for high quality and safe infant nutrition and will do whatever it takes to resolve this situation. We regret this situation and the impact it will have on parents, caregivers, patients and healthcare professionals."

For more on this recent recall, check out These Infant Formulas Are Being Recalled After Four Babies Have Fallen Ill.