Baby formula shortage leaves shelves empty at some Toronto stores
Toronto store shelves are starting to empty as a formula shortage in the U.S. appears to be affecting retail here in Canada.
Meanwhile, parents have been watching, and they're stacking up.
"We actually just grabbed some extra just yesterday," says Neva Daya, who is shopping with her 11-month-old daughter, Alivia.
Daya says that when shopping for formula, they have to look around.
"The shelves are pretty bare," she says. “You have to go to a couple stores but we were lucky amazon had some too so we stocked up there."
At one local Shoppers Drug Mart in the city, small gaps are visible where products were once stocked – also at a local No Frills store.
A nearby WalMart has an entire row missing. There is a note taped to one of the shelves saying a voluntary recall of the product Similac last February is contributing to the shortage.
Baby formula shortage at a Toronto store. (CTV News Toronto/ Sean Leathong)The Retail Council of Canada has said Canada is not in a shortage, but the recall, coupled with supply chain issues related to COVID-19 has created pressure on other brands.
“I'm probably going to buy a couple more containers of (formula), just in case, because you never know," Laura Calma says while shopping at WalMart with her two-year-old.
Calma says there is still enough product where she shops, but as a parent, she is aware of the shortage in the U.S. “It's kind of a little scary, hopefully it doesn't come here in Canada," she says.
While shelves are already starting to see gaps, one of the major manufacturers of formula says it will be at least two weeks before things improve.
In a statement provided to CTV News Toronto, Chicago based Abbott Laboratories says, "Subject to FDA approval, we could restart our Sturgis, Mich., site within two weeks."
But, there could still be some time before shelves are at full capacity, as they added, "From the time we restart the site, it will take six to eight weeks before product is available on shelves."
Neha Daya says she has noticed more than just formula becoming scarce. “There's been a lot of shortages for baby things so we've just been stocking up when we find things," she says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks beat Oilers 5-4 in comeback to take Game 1
The Vancouver Canucks won the first game of their NHL playoffs series with the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 on Wednesday night coming back from a three-goal deficit.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.