Another great article. It’s a shame it’s also so tragic. I’m wondering if it’s just a coincidence that our majority of MALE elected politicians are still making womens and childrens issues the lowest possible priority while they protect their predominantly MALE CEO friends and their corporate MONEY!?!?!
I just confirmed this. $2.3 billion in Q1 stock buybacks. The only comment I can make on what this does for the company, is it gives the board more control. Though the last five years they had been investing in capital.
My wager is poor internal controls over its workforce. That can apply from the top to the bottom. And the board to your ultimate point is responsible.
How ironic in a time when conservatives feel babies are such a huge priority they’ll legislate more into existence, against the people’s will, while doing NOTHING to help their parents feed or care for them.
Great article. One of my co workers lost over $100 in product due to the recall. Nobody replaces the money
spent. Took time to find formula and it was almost critical as baby was too young to supplement with cereal and baby food. I curse the GOP, The 1% and Corporate greed.
Daily they do something else dastardly to the American experience a d 74 million fools voted for Trump. Nary a Republican voted to codify Roe vWade in the US senate yesterday.
The precipice is before us. Vote. Give money to blue candidates like Marcus Flowers in GA running against MTG. You and I cannot be lazy for life will become so much worse for all of us. If we lose the midterms, this ship is sunk.
I'd like to add a question to these comments, which I agree with. My question is... other than voting for candidates that are more friendly to the American family (vs. to corporations), and making charitable contributions to food banks and the like, what else can a single citizen do? While I appreciate the information provided in these posts, I would also like to see actionable suggestions to help rectify this and other issues that are described in the posts. I can take some actions myself, such as corporate boycotts (which I do), however this seems like such a futile gesture unless it is nationally organized and widely adhered too by many. An example of additional information I would like to see would be providing the names and contact information of organizations that are fighting to make the changes needed to combat the corporate lobbying efforts.
Many of us feel frustrated and even hopeless up against the corporate-dark-money-machine and their partners in government, but Judd and his team are investigative journalists, something this country is in dire need of more of. One thing we can do is share reliable reporting and encourage people to pause and think a bit more about what they are consuming on social media. If people want to help right now, with this issue, they could consider finding an accredited human milk bank near them and donating money: https://www.hmbana.org/
Judd great idea for the option to gift a one month subscription. I just took advantage of it by sending to my daughter with this note attached:
Nicole,
I want to share with you a news letter that I have found to be factual and informative. So I am gifting a one month paid subscription to Popular Information to you.
It is my hope that you to will find value in it. When you have had time to read a few of his articles - please let me know what you think.
Recently at my local supermarket in Western Massachusetts, I noticed that the baby formula was in a locked case behind the cashier. Inquiring, I learned that formula was, by far, the most frequently stolen item.
I think you're being far too kind in the wording of this article. Including the line about why the whistleblower was 'dismissed', without verification of whether it was justified, detracts from their claims immensely. You missed the Abbott stock buybacks, too. Abbott is criminally negligent, without a doubt, but the article doesn't drive home that point. Your work is typically impeccable, but I feel it missed the mark this time.
Thank you, Judd, Tesmin, and Rebecca for researching and presenting a wonderfully informative article. [I lost my reply twice so maybe I'm "not supposed" to rant about our lack of moral and spiritual compass in our country and on our planet.] I advocate a return to age old wisdom that breastfeeding is healthy for both mother and infant. The unreproducible milk from a mother's breast provides extra immunities, and freedom from allergies. Even if a mother has issues with spring or fall pollen (a part of nature, not of toxic chemicals), her infant need not be deprived of what her nature provides. And, yes, the tragedy that old, out of touch with the full scope of life men should declare what is wise and right for women regarding birth, but act intent on abandoning the needs of so many children once they are born infuriates most of us. And, this crummy company, Abbott, choosing $2.3 billion in Q1 stock buybacks rather than improve or maintain their product will hopefully go into nonexistence. Tons of sugar are not healthy for anyone of any age; neither is corn syrup made from hmo corn in our country. There are other alternatives I just learned about online from Europe. We can do much better across the board.
Judd, thank-you and your staff for another well written article that continues to be factual and informative without using catch phrases to incite mob hysteria.
From time to time I share your articles with my own commentary to Facebook. Thanks for giving your readership the ability to do so!
It is always my hope that it will educate, inform and move my circle to action. Even if it is one…
This is what I posted to my page today while sharing your article.
“ You all may or may not have heard about the baby formula shortage. I just heard about it a week ago. Since I do not have a personal connection it was not on my radar screen.
It is now since reading this article.
Please do not turn this into a Democrat vs Republican issue. It is a broad humanity issue!
At the heart of it all - we as American citizens can make a difference when we use our money to shop for services and goods, become educated about who we elect to fight the good fight for all. My first step in change is to truly become educated about my local, state and national corporations and government. And to know my hard “No’s” and where to draw the line when it comes to supporting others, allowing corruption via corporations, political interest, special interest groups to claim to speak for me.”
I'm for paid family leave but aren't there only 52 weeks in a year? Slovakia, Finland, and Hungary give new parents 3 years of paid leave? Maybe a huge corporation could afford to do that, but I sure cannot. I own and operate a small business with 7 employees. There is absolutely no way that I could afford to pay one of my employees to not come to work for 3 years and still expect to have a job. Zero weeks of paid family leave in the US is crazy but I think most people would also admit that 3 years of paid leave for a new child is also crazy.
Around every corner is a “new” problem that’s been in front of our faces for a long time. If it’s true that infant formula "consists mostly of dehydrated cow’s milk, vitamins, and a ton of sugar,” then I’m guessing there are companies small and large in this country and others that make and sell formula by another name. It would be useful to check for this before it has a chance to become the next national nightmare.
Another great article. It’s a shame it’s also so tragic. I’m wondering if it’s just a coincidence that our majority of MALE elected politicians are still making womens and childrens issues the lowest possible priority while they protect their predominantly MALE CEO friends and their corporate MONEY!?!?!
True this and people of color catch the voter restrictions right in the gut in most of the 43 Republican controlled state legislatures
Unfettered capitalism at it's finest 🤔
Did you read the part about the FDA delay? It’s unrestrained capitalism not being held accountable by laws already in place.
Yup. Also, there was an (unconfirmed) post on Twitter that said Abbott was doing stock buybacks instead of maintaining it's equipment!
I just confirmed this. $2.3 billion in Q1 stock buybacks. The only comment I can make on what this does for the company, is it gives the board more control. Though the last five years they had been investing in capital.
My wager is poor internal controls over its workforce. That can apply from the top to the bottom. And the board to your ultimate point is responsible.
Read that too. Corporate greed.
But capital investments I mean property, plant and equipment. They’ve been focusing on “medical devices” it seems lately.
You are definitely my kinda guy, Dr. Bob. Your "capitalism" comment beat me to the same punch. 😎
How ironic in a time when conservatives feel babies are such a huge priority they’ll legislate more into existence, against the people’s will, while doing NOTHING to help their parents feed or care for them.
More proof they are only “pro-birth”—mother and child be damned after that.
Great article. One of my co workers lost over $100 in product due to the recall. Nobody replaces the money
spent. Took time to find formula and it was almost critical as baby was too young to supplement with cereal and baby food. I curse the GOP, The 1% and Corporate greed.
Daily they do something else dastardly to the American experience a d 74 million fools voted for Trump. Nary a Republican voted to codify Roe vWade in the US senate yesterday.
The precipice is before us. Vote. Give money to blue candidates like Marcus Flowers in GA running against MTG. You and I cannot be lazy for life will become so much worse for all of us. If we lose the midterms, this ship is sunk.
I'd like to add a question to these comments, which I agree with. My question is... other than voting for candidates that are more friendly to the American family (vs. to corporations), and making charitable contributions to food banks and the like, what else can a single citizen do? While I appreciate the information provided in these posts, I would also like to see actionable suggestions to help rectify this and other issues that are described in the posts. I can take some actions myself, such as corporate boycotts (which I do), however this seems like such a futile gesture unless it is nationally organized and widely adhered too by many. An example of additional information I would like to see would be providing the names and contact information of organizations that are fighting to make the changes needed to combat the corporate lobbying efforts.
Many of us feel frustrated and even hopeless up against the corporate-dark-money-machine and their partners in government, but Judd and his team are investigative journalists, something this country is in dire need of more of. One thing we can do is share reliable reporting and encourage people to pause and think a bit more about what they are consuming on social media. If people want to help right now, with this issue, they could consider finding an accredited human milk bank near them and donating money: https://www.hmbana.org/
Judd great idea for the option to gift a one month subscription. I just took advantage of it by sending to my daughter with this note attached:
Nicole,
I want to share with you a news letter that I have found to be factual and informative. So I am gifting a one month paid subscription to Popular Information to you.
It is my hope that you to will find value in it. When you have had time to read a few of his articles - please let me know what you think.
Love Mom
Thank you for writing.
I think it’s safe to say that everyone, 94% of us aren’t doing our jobs satisfactorily.
I think Judd is in the 6% that do their work well. But it’s a hard fought fight I’m sure.
Hold the FDA accountable. Go after the lobbyists. How can we organize our own lobbying efforts that are focused and concentrated?
These fights are on multiple spherical and inter-dimensional fronts.
Recently at my local supermarket in Western Massachusetts, I noticed that the baby formula was in a locked case behind the cashier. Inquiring, I learned that formula was, by far, the most frequently stolen item.
Look how much it is and how small a space it occupies. Makes sense.
I think you're being far too kind in the wording of this article. Including the line about why the whistleblower was 'dismissed', without verification of whether it was justified, detracts from their claims immensely. You missed the Abbott stock buybacks, too. Abbott is criminally negligent, without a doubt, but the article doesn't drive home that point. Your work is typically impeccable, but I feel it missed the mark this time.
U.S,. industry's [and most politicians'] message to the average American: Work. Or die.
Thank you, Judd, Tesmin, and Rebecca for researching and presenting a wonderfully informative article. [I lost my reply twice so maybe I'm "not supposed" to rant about our lack of moral and spiritual compass in our country and on our planet.] I advocate a return to age old wisdom that breastfeeding is healthy for both mother and infant. The unreproducible milk from a mother's breast provides extra immunities, and freedom from allergies. Even if a mother has issues with spring or fall pollen (a part of nature, not of toxic chemicals), her infant need not be deprived of what her nature provides. And, yes, the tragedy that old, out of touch with the full scope of life men should declare what is wise and right for women regarding birth, but act intent on abandoning the needs of so many children once they are born infuriates most of us. And, this crummy company, Abbott, choosing $2.3 billion in Q1 stock buybacks rather than improve or maintain their product will hopefully go into nonexistence. Tons of sugar are not healthy for anyone of any age; neither is corn syrup made from hmo corn in our country. There are other alternatives I just learned about online from Europe. We can do much better across the board.
Of course the US has massive, strategic oil reserves, among other “critical products”, but none for baby formula. 😡
Judd, thank-you and your staff for another well written article that continues to be factual and informative without using catch phrases to incite mob hysteria.
From time to time I share your articles with my own commentary to Facebook. Thanks for giving your readership the ability to do so!
It is always my hope that it will educate, inform and move my circle to action. Even if it is one…
This is what I posted to my page today while sharing your article.
“ You all may or may not have heard about the baby formula shortage. I just heard about it a week ago. Since I do not have a personal connection it was not on my radar screen.
It is now since reading this article.
Please do not turn this into a Democrat vs Republican issue. It is a broad humanity issue!
At the heart of it all - we as American citizens can make a difference when we use our money to shop for services and goods, become educated about who we elect to fight the good fight for all. My first step in change is to truly become educated about my local, state and national corporations and government. And to know my hard “No’s” and where to draw the line when it comes to supporting others, allowing corruption via corporations, political interest, special interest groups to claim to speak for me.”
A grateful reader!
I'm for paid family leave but aren't there only 52 weeks in a year? Slovakia, Finland, and Hungary give new parents 3 years of paid leave? Maybe a huge corporation could afford to do that, but I sure cannot. I own and operate a small business with 7 employees. There is absolutely no way that I could afford to pay one of my employees to not come to work for 3 years and still expect to have a job. Zero weeks of paid family leave in the US is crazy but I think most people would also admit that 3 years of paid leave for a new child is also crazy.
I thought the same thing. I think the government may be subsidizing family leave to support birth rates.
allow in European baby formula (currently mostly illegal here but allowed in Europe). https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/us-parents-european-baby-formula/
Around every corner is a “new” problem that’s been in front of our faces for a long time. If it’s true that infant formula "consists mostly of dehydrated cow’s milk, vitamins, and a ton of sugar,” then I’m guessing there are companies small and large in this country and others that make and sell formula by another name. It would be useful to check for this before it has a chance to become the next national nightmare.