In February 2022, infant formula maker Abbott Laboratories issued a huge recall of its baby formula due to bacterial contamination. The recall, which happened at a time when supply chains were still feeling the strain of the pandemic, included several lots of Abbott's Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas. As the largest formula maker, Abbott provides over 40 percent of the country's infant formula. Grocery store shelves across the country were empty for months, leaving parents to scramble to find ways to feed their infants.
As Salon previously reported, some parents desperately scoured Facebook groups for formula dealers, or in some cases, bought breast milk on online platforms. Scammers and price gougers wasted no time exploiting this crisis.
