U.S. Infant Formula Shortage Led to Increase in Breastfeeding Initiation Rates

Breastfeeding initiation in the United States increased by nearly 2 percentage points following a major plant  closure and formula recall resulted in a formula shortage, which had already been affected by supply chain disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in the January 2025 Pediatrics. The study,” Breastfeeding Trends Following the U.S. Infant Formula Shortage,” published online Dec. 30, found the increase in breastfeeding initiation was most pronounced among subgroups with historically higher rates of formula-feeding, including Medicaid recipients, non-Hispanic Black mothers, and participants in the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Those with lower education levels or who live in less populous settings were also more likely to initiate breastfeeding than before the formula shortage, researchers found when analyzing 2016-2022 national birth certificate data from 47 states and the District of Columbia. Following the onset of the formula crisis in February 2022, breastfeeding rates began to rise, reaching a peak increase of 3.20 percentage points in June 2022 (87.18% vs 83.98%). This trend began to diminish after June 2022 when the Abbott Nutrition formula plant reopened in Michigan, as well as the enactment of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022, which suspended tariffs on imported infant formula. To encourage breastfeeding and reduce disparities, the authors suggest the use of targeted interventions, including breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies, enhanced lactation support, expanded access to paid family leave, and improved regulation of infant formula marketing.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.