EPISODE · May 19, 2022 · 19 MIN
'Four companies control 90%' How the baby formula industry failed to protect its Achilles' heel
from The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio · host Audacy
The US is experiencing a significant and massively disruptive shortage of baby formula. It started because of several factors, says Dr. Nilofar Varzgani, assistant professor of business systems and analytics at La Salle University. One of them was the recall of formula and shuttering of a major Abbott production plant in Michigan. Another reason: the concentration of power in the baby formula industry made it uniquely and critically vulnerable to supply chain issues. As a result, parents and families are scrambling. So how did we get to this point, and how do we get out?
What this episode covers
The US is experiencing a significant and massively disruptive shortage of baby formula. It started because of several factors, says Dr. Nilofar Varzgani, assistant professor of business systems and analytics at La Salle University. One of them was the recall of formula and shuttering of a major Abbott production plant in Michigan. Another reason: the concentration of power in the baby formula industry made it uniquely and critically vulnerable to supply chain issues. As a result, parents and families are scrambling. So how did we get to this point, and how do we get out?
NOW PLAYING
'Four companies control 90%' How the baby formula industry failed to protect its Achilles' heel
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Mar 19, 2026 ·34m
Feb 18, 2026 ·11m
Feb 11, 2026 ·45m