Some formula brands not available in eastern NM

When it comes to baby formula availability in the Clovis and Portales area, there’s plenty of some brands, empty shelves where other brands used to be.

Supply chain issues and the closure of a major baby formula production plant are the root cause of the problem that has prompted concern at the White House, hearings in Congress and worries for parents in a number of locales across the country.

Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., and a number of fellow Congress members wrote a letter to the Infant Nutrition Council of America,

Luján and his colleagues stressed how dire the situation is for families, and urged formula manufacturers to take action to increase infant formula production and distribution and prevent future supply chain disruptions.

In Clovis, Albertson’s Supermarket store Director Bill Bargman believes his store and many others across the state have plenty of Gerber baby formula because it is the state’s Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) program’s number one seller.

Bargman said the state signed a multi-year contract with Gerber before the shortage began and that has kept Gerber on the shelves.

For those who feed their children Enfamil brand formula “they’re having it tougher,” Bargman said.

Bargman said his store limits formula purchases to five at a time.

At Clovis’ S&S Supermarket Assistant Manager Linda Platt said the store is stocked with “plenty” of Gerber formula.

Nutramigen, Neosure and Enfamil brands are harder to get according to Platt. She said she’s been ordering 10 cases twice a week for the past three months or more and she can’t get the product.

Platt said there are no hard limits on how much formula a customer may buy but there is a sign at the store that asks customers to limit their purchases so all babies may have formula.

Martin Delgado, manager of Farmer’s Country Market in Portales, said his store is “doing all right” when it comes to having baby formula on the shelves.

“The WIC formulas we have,” Delgado said. “We don’t have every baby formula but we do have plenty of Gerber.”

Delgado said his store is limiting baby formula purchases at one case or six cans per customer.