Local news, events, food, festivals, concerts, arts and community
In a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Congressional leaders will ask baby formula manufacturers and government regulators what happened to the United States' supply of formula and what's preventing stores from restocking shelves. A statement released in advance of the hearing states, "In recent months, American families have experienced a supply shortage of infant formula. Reports of a shortage first began in January 2022, exacerbated by the Abbott Nutrition (Abbott) voluntary recall of certain brands of powdered infant formula in February 2022 following reports of potential Cronobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter) contamination at its Sturgis, Michigan, facility. As many as 75 percent of American caregivers partially depend on the formula to provide nutrients to their infants up to six months of age. The current shortage has been particularly acute for low-income families, rural families, and infants and children solely reliant on specialty formulas to manage metabolic, gastrointestinal, or allergic disorders."
The closure of a significant manufacturing facility has caused a baby formula shortage. The company that makes Similac, Abbott Nutrition, holds more than 40% of the market for baby formula in the U.S. What led to the facility closure?
In September 2021, initial complaints filed in Minnesota stated an infant who consumed formula made at Abbott's Michigan facilities tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii, a potentially lethal bacteria. Cronobacter is rare, but it can cause sepsis or meningitis and even cause infant death.
In October 2021, a former Abbott employee contacted the FDA concerning possible food safety violations at the Michigan facility. Numerous safety concerns detailed in the complaint include negligent safety procedures. According to the former Abbott employee, officials manipulated testing procedures and purposefully covered up quality concerns, such as discovering bacteria in a batch of infant formula in 2019. According to Politico, the whistleblower accuses Abbott of allegedly shipping untested formulas and falsifying maintenance records. There was no traceability, and the factory's automatic labeler frequently malfunctioned, making it difficult to track down potentially contaminated products.
In late January 2022, upon receiving consumer complaints about infant illnesses related to formulas produced at Abbott's Michigan plant, the FDA initiated a joint investigation with the Centers for Disease Control.
In February 2022, the agency issued a consumer advisory alert. Abbott voluntarily recalled several infant formulas and shut down the Michigan plant, crippling supply since only a handful of baby formula manufacturers in the United States.
Biden invoked the Defense Production Act on Wednesday to force suppliers to prioritize infant formula production to address the crisis. The Pentagon was also authorized to use commercial flights to import supplies. The Senate unanimously passed the Access to Baby Formula Act on Thursday, ensuring that low-income families can buy formula. Biden signed the bill on Friday.
Despite these efforts, our local grocery store shelves sit almost empty. Furthermore, the crisis has fueled formula hoarding, which has exacerbated the deficit and reports of price gouging. Some stores, such as CVS and Walgreens limit customers to three formula purchases per visit.
The Stroudsburg Herald reached out to Giant (East Stroudsburg) and Target (Stroudsburg) to inquire about the estimated time of formula deliveries to their stores. Both stores had the same response that they did not know when the baby formula would be arriving due to the national shortage. Store personnel advised our investigator to check with them daily.
The memo also states, " On March 22, 2022, Abbott announced efforts to increase production of Similac at its other manufacturing facilities in the United States, import Similac from its Ireland plant, and prioritize production of different liquid formulas. On May 11, 2022, the company announced that it could restart its Sturgis plant within two weeks with FDA approval, putting products onto shelves six to eight weeks later. Commissioner Califf has since echoed that the facility could be up and running by late May 2022. " In addition, the FDA announced, that about 2 million cans of U.K. Kendamil baby formula are scheduled to arrive and expected to be in store shelves in early June.
Local news, events, food, festivals, concerts, arts and community
According to a press release by Monroe County District Attorney's Office. On May 24, as part of their ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in the Poconos, the Criminal Investigations Division of the Monroe County District Attorney's Office conducted an undercover sting operation in Stroudsburg Borough, Monroe County. The operation resulted in the arrest of Jessica Bauer and Eric Scelza, both of Stroudsburg.
The grocery workers in our communities make a difference every day. Offering a helping hand to an elderly neighbor, delivering groceries to those who feel safe at home, or showing up on the frontlines during this pandemic - grocery workers support our communities in the face of crisis.
The light was shining in the front window early this morning on a Kingly old chair in the living room corner. Rays of sunshine were reaching across the weathered wood and old fabric like an overzealous intervention determined to reveal the truth about what was really going on with this old relic, still adjusting to its newest surroundings.
The Castle Inn has had many lives since it was built in 1906. Perhaps one of the most important was the part it played in the shaping of music history. Those who appreciate music will be fascinated by the past of the castle inn by hosting The Waring Music Workshops for 20 years. It moved to Penn State.
In honor of the upcoming Pride Month, we want to recognize an establishment in the Poconos that caters to the LGBTQ community and share more about Rainbow Mountain Resort. I have been to Rainbow Mountain Resort, and it is a gem. We had a sit down with Manager Jenny Urena, as she told us about Rainbow Mountain:
A client had paid in full months ago and was not picking up the project or responding to mailing instruction requests. I knew where his father-in-law lived, so, on a clear sunny day, I decided to hop in the convertible and leisurely head down a beautiful country road for special delivery.
Newfoundland, PA: On May 21st, 2022 from 1-4PM, the Newfoundland Area Public Library is hosting "A Taste of Wayne," a community celebration of local wineries, breweries, artisans, restaurants, musicians, and more. A winery and brewery tasting stroll along the beautiful Carlton Drake Memorial Park nature trail in Newfoundland will be available with a $25 "Passport" ticket purchase. Food trucks and live music will be available for all park visitors, and the Newfoundland Farmer’s Market will be open longer hours with additional vendors and artisans. "A Taste of Wayne" hopes to support growth in our local businesses, spotlight a beautiful local park, and to raise money to support the library and new projects to enrich the greater Newfoundland area.
One of my favorite delights is going out to a restaurant for a nice meal. With lockdowns and mandates, takeout was the rule of the day. We did a lot of ordering to help businesses remain solvent.
The purpose of a primary election is to select the nominees for a political party to run in the general election. To vote in a primary election, you must be registered with a political party. Independents do not vote in primary elections.
May 16, 2022 - Hawley, PA: Nearly 16 years ago this June, The Lodge at Woodloch first opened its doors. The luxurious spa resort was designed as a destination like no other in the Northeast. The intent was to create a wellness respite for guests to find a personal awakening through discovering stress-relieving outlets to help them along their wellness journeys. The well-regarded spa experts and ownership team carefully selected the land, overlooking a 15-acre lake and naturally occurring cranberry bog knowing that Hawley, Pennsylvania was a perfect location, providing easy access from New York City, Philadelphia, and other major cities.
Celebrated in the United States on May 1 and throughout May, Law Day has become an integral part of the legal culture. President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed Law Day on May 1, 1958, to honor the role of law in the creation of the United States of America. Congress later passed a joint resolution establishing May 1 as Law Day.
Monroe County local Richard Lesh always found himself in the right place at pivotal moments in history:. • Weathering a hurricane in the famed Bermuda Triangle as a young sailor, his ship was tossed about and nearly lost at sea.
The "Get Outdoors Poconos" series invites the public to hike Buck Hill's private trails! The Brodhead Watershed Association is privileged to obtain exclusive access to this one-time event.
Giving back to the community is an integral part of the Brotherhood of Freemasons. So who are the Freemasons? Some in our area are not familiar with this historical fraternity.
Being in the entertainment business for so many years, I've had the opportunity to meet many people from various backgrounds. At times, a unique character will stand out from the rest for their authenticity and uniqueness. This is the case of Judy Torres, whose talent, work ethic, and resilience make her as memorable as she is lovely.
My wife met a lovely lady at the store, and they talked about family, faith, compassion, and home additions. We accepted an invitation to her house for coffee and a chance to meet her husband. He buzzed us in through the large gates that surrounded his empire. He told me he had a successful career in the construction business and was semi-retired, but that he missed work and was often fighting depression and loneliness.
Mother's day is just around the corner. Did you almost forget? Your mom can be your best friend or not, but there are always moments and memories to cherish. Having a mother or a mother-like figure in our life is truly an honor.
According to an April 22, 2022, article in the New Jersey Herald, NJDOT held an internal committee meeting to discuss advancing a project to study "damage to a retaining wall that supports a raised section of Route 80, near the Delaware Water Gap". According to the meeting's agenda, the wall may be"subject to sudden failure".
The Beautiful Day Un Dia Bonito Show had the privilege to have Francesca Marinaro, owner of one of the largest dance centers in our region- Fusia Center for the Arts on our program last season. We had the opportunity to laugh and learn more about Fusia Center for the Arts together. As Latinos, Dance is one of our favorite forms of expression, and no one knows this more than Francesca, so we thought we would highlight her this week to share more about herself and her passion for Fusia Center for the Arts.