The baby formula shortage is real and just as production started in a plant in Sturgis, Michigan, severe storms and flooding has stopped production.

What Caused Baby Formula Shortage?

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VIEW press/Corbis via Getty Images
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For the past few months, there has been a baby formula shortage. The shortage is mainly caused by pandemic-related supply chain issues.

Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Back in February, Abbott Laboratories that is located in Sturgis, Michigan closed one of its manufacturing facilities. The closer was due to a recall of infant formula products that allegedly happened after four babies taking the formula developed bacterial infections. Unfortunately, two of the babies died. This sparked a federal investigation. Abbott insists that there is no connection between the formula the company makes and the babies contracting bacterial infections.

Abbott Re-opens and Starts Baby Formula Production

Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Nearly four months after Abbott closed the baby formula plant in Sturgis, they reopened and began production on baby formula. Hundreds of workers were able to return to work. The plant was just six weeks away from returning to full capacity but was thrown a curve ball on Monday, June 13, when severe storms and flooding caused the plant to stop production again.

Abbott's Baby Formula Plant Temporarily Stops Production

Zoonar RF/ThinkStock/GettyStock
Zoonar RF/ThinkStock/GettyStock
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WOOD-TV reported that Abbott announced the torrential storms produced significant rainfall in a short period of time that resulted in flooding in parts of Sturgis and areas of their plant.

Closeup of high water flooding on neighborhood street.
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What Baby Formula Products Does Abbotts Make?

abbottnutrition.com
abbottnutrition.com
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Similac is one of their top products but it will be a while before the plant restarts production.

abbottnutrition.com
abbottnutrition.com
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EleCare is another of Abbott's brands that will take weeks to get back into production as clean-up from the storm takes place. Then Abbott has to re-sanitize the plant and get it tested by a third party before getting back to safe production. There is one piece of good news, Abbott has a good existing supply of EleCare to meet demands until they are back up and running.

KEEP READING: Here are the most popular baby names in every state

Using March 2019 data from the Social Security Administration, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular names in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., according to their 2018 SSA rankings. The top five boy names and top five girl names are listed for each state, as well as the number of babies born in 2018 with that name. Historically common names like Michael only made the top five in three states, while the less common name Harper ranks in the top five for 22 states.

Curious what names are trending in your home state? Keep reading to see if your name made the top five -- or to find inspiration for naming your baby.

KEEP READING: What were the most popular baby names from the past 100 years?

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