A second shipment of much-needed baby formula from Europe has arrived in Virginia on Wednesday.
Responding to political pressure, the Biden administration began airlifting shipments of formula to the United States.
At the same time, the Federal Trade Commission announced Tuesday that it has launched an inquiry into the formula shortage, seeking information on any deceptive or fraudulent business practices related to it.
The agency said it also aims to shed light on what led to the concentration in the baby formula market and the weak supply chains.
Food experts say strict formula regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have long limited competition.
Beginning in 1980, Congress gave the FDA authority to rigorously enforce the nutritional content of all formula sold in the United States, imposing extra research and manufacturing standards that have few equivalents worldwide. The changes came after some babies were sickened by deficient formulas in the 1970s.
The United States has long imposed tariffs and quotas on dairy imports from abroad, including Canada, in order to shield American milk producers from competition.
In a related move, the FDA said Tuesday it would allow the importation of 2 million cans of Kendal Nutricare formula from the UK to boost supplies. The products are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores early next month.
