A mother took it upon herself to confront a fellow mom at a Target store as she was filling up her shopping cart up with baby formula (file photo)

A mother took it upon herself to confront a fellow mom at a Target store as she was filling up her shopping cart up with baby formula. 

The entire interaction was captured on video and later posted to TikTok as one  woman attempted to hold the other to account. 

Although the woman’s face could not be seen, the contents of a cart were clearly visible with more than 30 bottles of baby formula stashed inside.

The clash is said to have happened as a target store in Massachusetts but the problem is not isolated to that particular state but nationwide, with a shortage of baby formula on the nation’s shelves. 

A mother took it upon herself to confront a fellow mom at a Target store as she was filling up her shopping cart up with baby formula (file photo)

A mother took it upon herself to confront a fellow mom at a Target store as she was filling up her shopping cart up with baby formula (file photo)

‘You have a full cart! Look at all this!’ the woman exclaims as she spots the fully stocked cart.

‘Look at the shelves,’ she continues, noting how they are all completely empty. ‘You don’t think I need it for my baby too?’

The other mother responds in broken English: ‘You think I knew you were going to come and get this one?’

‘You just cleared the whole shelf of all of this formula’, the woman replies. 

‘We took it because I am paying for it!’ the other mother responds. 

‘And I’m not paying for?’ the first mother retorts. ‘I have a child at home and you just cleared the whole shelf,’ she states calmly. 

Supplies on shelves are dwindling and in some cases completely out of stock

Supplies on shelves are dwindling and in some cases completely out of stock 

‘This is the whole reason why there’s a formula shortage. You’ve taken all the formula off the shelf and bought it all at once! There’s kids who need formula today who won’t be able to get it because you just bought it to stock up.’

By this point, after more than a minute of back-and-forth, the other female shopper has heard enough and decided to move on with her shopping.

‘That’s not your problem, right?’ she calls after her. 

The behavior sparked plenty of comments on social media. 

‘The store should limit the amount each person can buy’, wrote Scarlette Rogue.

One commenter suggested that the woman was actually going online to sell the formula. 

‘There should be a limit or lock it up like Walmart does. That’s crazy. She’s probably going to sell it no baby at home. I’m buying?!’ added Tyasha Dixon.

‘Why hasn’t Target put a limit on the amount one person can purchase? I was at a Walgreens’s in Milwaukee and the formula was behind the counter,’ explained Laurielovesmolly.

‘The shortage is because of all the recalls let’s stop blaming parents for being smart and stocking up when it’s available,’ said Rivera Miranda in defense of the woman’s actions.

President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act on Wednesday evening to boost baby formula production and issued a directive for planes to bring in supplies from overseas, after growing pressure from Congress.

On Wednesday night, the government appeared to be finally attempting to do something to resolved the baby formula crisis.

The House of Representatives passed a bill to provide $28million in emergency after parents blasted President Joe Biden for taking too long to invoke the Defense Production Act.

Republicans said the legislation was covering up for the administration’s ‘ineptitude’ during the crisis and is only ‘throwing money at the FDA’ rather than fixing the problem. 

The White House now insists the new moves will reverse the baby formula shortage after weeks of bare shelves, with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy telling MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Thursday that supplies will increase in weeks.

The House passed two bills. The first was a measure approved on a 414-9 vote that will allow low-income women to purchase more baby formula through the federal Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program.

The second, the Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022, provides the funding as parents across America struggle to find supplies to feed their children and was passed on a 231-192 vote.

The shortage began in November, when the out-of-stock rate for formula was about 11 percent for the country. On average 40 percent of the nation's baby formula is currently out of stock. Shortages are above 50 percent in some areas and the issue is hitting children with allergies and health conditions more severely

The shortage began in November, when the out-of-stock rate for formula was about 11 percent for the country. On average 40 percent of the nation’s baby formula is currently out of stock. Shortages are above 50 percent in some areas and the issue is hitting children with allergies and health conditions more severely

Their fates are uncertain in the Senate, but Democratic Majority Leader has said he will try and pass the bills by unanimous consent – even though it could be blocked by one Senator. 

Nancy Pelosi celebrated the votes, but Republican House Whip Steve Scalise urged his colleagues to vote no because the legislation was covering up the administrations ‘ineptitude’, according to The Hill.

He said Democrats put forward the legislation ‘in hopes of covering up the administration’s ineptitude by throwing additional money at the FDA with no plan to actually fix the problem, all while failing to hold the FDA accountable’. 

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik also proposed a GOP the Babies Need More Formula Now Act that would increase the supply by lifting restrictions on the importation of infant formula and reducing barriers to innovation by new brands

Many shelves, including this one at a Target store in Maryland are completely out of stock

Many shelves, including this one at a Target store in Maryland are completely out of stock

Biden, on Wednesday evening, invoked the Defense Production Act to boost baby formula production and issued a directive for planes to bring in supplies from overseas, after growing pressure from Congress. 

In addition to invoking the Cold War-era law to compel suppliers to direct resources to infant formula manufacturers before any other customer, Biden announced ‘Operation Fly Formula.’

It will direct Defense Department, Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services resources to getting planes loaded with formula that meets FDA standards from other countries to bring it to the US.

The Defense Department will use its contracts with commercial airlines to transport the formula back to the US.

Despite the fact that concerned parents have repeatedly called on the president to address the shortage, the move was met with backlash online.

‘This should have been done weeks ago. Biden’s admin is utterly worthless and incompetent,’ one Twitter user slammed.

‘This is a HORRIBLE IDEA!! The government sucks at everything,’ echoed another. ‘They regulate the industry to death, don’t address it when they know its coming & are least able to fix it!’

‘We are stunned that it took this long for our government to react. Frankly, we wonder how it is possible that one of the most wealthy and powerful nations in the world, is unable to provide essential, vitally important goods the youngest and of the most vulnerable segments of our population?,’ Jordan Lewis, of upstate New York, told DailyMail.com Wednesday. 

‘It is fantastic that President Biden is now taking action with the Defense Production Act.

‘However, his indecisiveness and failure to tackle the problem head on before it became severe issue has lead to doubts in many communities including mine.’

Despite the fact that concerned parents have repeatedly called on the president to address the shortage, the move was met with backlash online

Despite the fact that concerned parents have repeatedly called on the president to address the shortage, the move was met with backlash online

The US relies on domestic producers for 98 percent of the baby formula it consumes.

The average out-of-stock rate for the key product hit 43 percent earlier this month, according to Datasembly.

Earlier Wednesday a bipartisan group in the House brought forth a resolution imploring Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act.

Twenty members of the House, eighteen Democrats, two Republicans, and many who face competitive re-election races, co-sponsored the resolution, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J.

Co-sponsors include Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), Elaine Luria (D-Va.) and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), and others. It has two Republican backers as well: Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Maria Salazar (R-Fla.)

The resolution joins several other pieces of legislation, including one bill from a bipartisan group of senators led by Marco Rubio that would order Biden to invoke the DPA and approve the sale of European-produced baby formulas in the U.S. 

Critics have noted that the FDA has rigid labeling standards for containers that prohibit the sale of many European-made products, even if the content itself is deemed safe to consume. The agency also strictly enforces a 90-day waiting period before any new infant formula is allowed into interstate commerce. 

Twenty members of the House, eighteen Democrats, two Republicans, and many who face competitive re-election races, co-sponsored the resolution, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. (pictured in March 2022)

Twenty members of the House, eighteen Democrats, two Republicans, and many who face competitive re-election races, co-sponsored the resolution, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. (pictured in March 2022)

PICTURED: Baby formula ready for distribution at a food pantry run by La Colaborativa in Chelsea, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 18

PICTURED: Baby formula ready for distribution at a food pantry run by La Colaborativa in Chelsea, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 18

PICTURED: Six month-old Jared Ramos watches as his mother receives free baby formula at a food pantry in Chelsea, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 18

PICTURED: Six month-old Jared Ramos watches as his mother receives free baby formula at a food pantry in Chelsea, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 18

Biden wrote in a letter to Health and Human Services Sec. Xavier Becerra and USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack on Tuesday:

‘Imports of baby formula will serve as a bridge to this ramped up production, therefore, I am requesting you take all appropriate measures available to get additional safe formula into the country immediately.

‘Specifically, I request that you work expeditiously to identify any and all avenues to speed the importation of safe infant formula into the United States and onto store shelves.’

Initially caused by supply chain blockages and a lack of production workers due to the pandemic, the shortage was exacerbated in February when, after the death of two infants, manufacturer Abbott announced a ‘voluntary recall’ for formula made at its factory in Michigan and shut down that location.

A subsequent investigation cleared the formula, and the FDA reached an agreement on Monday with Abott to resume production. But it will take weeks to get the critical product back on store shelves.

The desperation of parents has been highlighted on social media, where hundreds of thousands of posts called on the White House, FDA and other leaders to take action. 

It was no different when Biden unveiled his plan to invoke the Defense Production Act, a move that has been both applauded and highly criticized by infant caregivers.  

‘Wow! Invoking the Defense Production Act? Federal planes. Biden is not your run of the mill @POTUS,’ wrote Twitter user @glenlg2. ‘At least when one says Biden’s actions are ‘unprecedented,’ one can always rest assured that it’s for a good cause.’

‘I’m glad Biden is invoking the defense production act to help fix the formula shortage,’ journalist Jessica Grose shared. ‘But it should never have come to this, and reforming WIC permanently should happen too.’

‘This president just did a fabulous thing,’ Catherine Morrison said. ‘I don’t like Biden but he is doing the right thing here, congratulations Mr. President.’

‘Defense Production Act aka another one of Trump’s messes Biden is cleaning up,’ @Justdrewisme tweeted, slamming Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, while others placed the blame on America’s current leadership.

Twitter account @NoLiberals argued: ‘Biden invokes Defense Production Act for baby formula (to basically fix a problem HIS administration CREATED when it shut down a factory making 40% of the baby formula in the US)!’ 

‘Do you realize Mr. President how ridiculous it sounds to invoke the Defense Production Act to provide baby formula to mothers in this country?’ questioned @johnwlathrop. ‘BTW I’m a real person and I vote.’

A handful of Twitter users applauded Biden's 'unprecedented' move to invoke the Defense Production Act to combat the formula crisis, alleging 'he is doing the right thing'

A handful of Twitter users applauded Biden’s ‘unprecedented’ move to invoke the Defense Production Act to combat the formula crisis, alleging ‘he is doing the right thing’

‘It’s all so they can brag about how he handled the formula crisis hoping he can get votes. They won’t mention that he caused it,’ echoed @HRLovellart. 

‘Dems blow it again… reward stock buybacks, greed, & consumer price gouging… surprise, with more taxpayer funded WELFARE!’ J. M. Hamilton said, blasting the Democratic party.   

‘SleepyJoe aka Biden invoking of the Defense Production Act is a travesty,’ Tom Martinez wrote. ‘His goons at the FDA and other government agencies are the ones who caused the shortage of baby formula in the first place by shutting down factories. This jerk needs to be impeached. #BidenTreason.’

‘So let me see if I have this straight,’ criticized @DonCamp29856335. ‘Joe’s plan is for the military to fly baby formula, made in America and shipped to other countries around the world, back to the USA?’

‘I wouldn’t feed my child infant formula under Biden’s Defense Production Act. IMPORTING baby formula from CHINA?’ @Sandra26865205 wrote. 

‘Ingredients from Asian countries? We have manufacturers in AMERICA that have been shuttered for months BECAUSE OF BIDEN. He starves us out then offers crumbs. A**hole!’

Others criticized how long it took the president to respond, accused him of causing the shortage and expressed concern over the quality and safety of foreign-produced formula

Others criticized how long it took the president to respond, accused him of causing the shortage and expressed concern over the quality and safety of foreign-produced formula

‘The Defense Production Act isn’t necessary. Lower the tariffs on formula and end the labeling requirements that make it hard to import. By the time you get plants to start producing formula the market will have righted itself already,’ wrote @Krysx7. ‘Why are you people so bad at this?’ 

‘I suppose now that Biden pulled the Defense Production Act from the archives his handlers will say that he saved American babies while he was pushing abortion after birth,’ added user @Suzanne54837213. 

Jillian Arroyo, of Falls Church, Virginia, who alongside her husband Chris has rallied lobbied legislators amid the shortage, told DailyMail.com that Biden’s latest action has offered a glimpse of hope for her family.

‘I am relieved this issue is getting the attention and action it has been desperately needing. Families have been struggling for months, and if the Defense Production Act gets us out of this predicament, we are supportive,’ she said on Wednesday.

‘As to the other recent updates, specifically the FDA and Abbott reaching an agreement on steps to reopen the Sturgis plant – we are cautiously optimistic. I am grateful the correct steps are finally being taken, and it feels like we are on the right path, but I can’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. 

She added: ‘We will see how it pans out in the coming weeks.’

The Arroyos have a 21-month-old daughter with allergies and special dietary needs who is dependent on formula for her nutrition. The couple, in an interview with DailyMail.com, previously criticized the Biden Administration for failing to ‘treat the shortage as the public health crisis’ it has become.

Jillian Arroyo (right), of Falls Church, Virginia, who alongside her husband Chris (left) has rallied lobbied legislators amid the shortage, told DailyMail.com that Biden's latest action has offered a glimpse of hope for her family. They are pictured with their daughter, Ellie (center)

Jillian Arroyo (right), of Falls Church, Virginia, who alongside her husband Chris (left) has rallied lobbied legislators amid the shortage, told DailyMail.com that Biden’s latest action has offered a glimpse of hope for her family. They are pictured with their daughter, Ellie (center)

PICTURED: A nearly empty baby formula display shelf is seen at CVS pharmacy on May 17, 2022 in Falls Church, Virginia

PICTURED: A nearly empty baby formula display shelf is seen at CVS pharmacy on May 17, 2022 in Falls Church, Virginia

Many states, including Tennessee, are experiencing above a 40 percent shortage after Abbott Laboratories recalled products in February, sending parents spiraling and leaving babies with rashes and illnesses after switching to generic

Many states, including Tennessee, are experiencing above a 40 percent shortage after Abbott Laboratories recalled products in February, sending parents spiraling and leaving babies with rashes and illnesses after switching to generic 

The US reached an all-time high on May 1 at 43 percent, which has persisted

The US reached an all-time high on May 1 at 43 percent, which has persisted

PICTURED: A sign limiting purchase quantities is posted on shelf that holds baby and toddler formula at a Target near Times Square in New York City on Tuesday, May 17

PICTURED: A sign limiting purchase quantities is posted on shelf that holds baby and toddler formula at a Target near Times Square in New York City on Tuesday, May 17

Biden most recently used the 1950 Defense Production Act to ramp up production of critical minerals. The act allows the federal government to compel certain industries to ramp up production in times of national emergency. 

The act was used to ramp up production of large capacity batteries, electric vehicles and the energy sector, both to reduce reliance on China amid increasing tensions and to address rising oil prices amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia is a major supplier of such minerals. 

Trump used the DPA at the height of the pandemic to crack down on hoarding of PPE, limit exports of medical goods and to increase production of tools to fight Covid-19 like ventilators. Biden has also used it to speed up vaccinations and testing. 

An Abbott Nutrition manufacturing plan in Sturgis, Michigan shuttered in February after four infants who drank its formula were hospitalized with a rare bacteria infection. Two babies died after consuming the product, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation into potential contamination. 

Abbott has acknowledged that is recall has worsened the formula shortage, but insisted that ‘after a thorough review of all available data, there is no evidence to link our formulas to these infant illnesses.’ 

The shortage began in November, when the out-of-stock rate for formula was about 11 percent for the country.  

On average 40 percent of the nation’s baby formula is currently out of stock. Shortages are above 50 percent in some areas and the issue is hitting children with allergies and health conditions more severely.

President Biden’s home state of Delaware is second hardest-hit by the shortage– formula was 54.4 percent out of stock there, according to Datasembly, a grocery and retail pricing data firm. 

Biden on Friday suggested it would have taken a ‘mind reader’ to predict the baby formula shortage.

‘If we’d been better mind readers, I guess we could have,’ Biden said when asked if his administration should have acted sooner.

‘We’re going to be in a matter of weeks – or less – getting significantly where more formula is on shelves,’ he said.

Abbott reached an agreement with the FDA this week that could see its products restocked in about two months, after it reopens its Sturgis plant. 

Abbott said its tentative timeline to reopen the plant was in about two weeks, and products to be restocked in about six to eight weeks.  

FDA commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said he thought the timeline was doable, but refused to commit to when parents could see relief. 

‘We believe those timeframes are reasonable,’ adding that the FDA expected supply to normalize ‘in the next couple of months.’ 

TIMELINE SHOWS HOW AMERICA’S LARGEST BABY FORMULA PLANT CEASED PRODUCTION

Abbott Laboratories, the biggest baby formula supplier in the U.S., ceased production at its Michigan plant in February 2022 amid reports of fatal bacterial infections.

A timeline of events shows reveals the shut down was the plant had previously been under scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

September 2021: The FDA conducted a four-day inspection of the Abbott Laboratories plant in Sturgis, Michigan.

The inspection report revealed the plant ‘did not maintain’ clean and sanitary conditions in at least one building that manufactured, processed, packaged or held baby formula.

FDA officials also observed poor hand washing among Abbott plant staff who ‘worked directly with infant formula.’

The FDA also noted an instance of improper equipment maintenance and temperature control. 

October 2021: A whistleblower sends the FDA a 34-page document outlining potential concerns with the Sturgis plant. 

The document, which was made public by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in April 2022, was written by a former plant employee. 

The employee accused the plant of lax cleaning practices, falsifying records, releasing untested infant formula, and hiding information during an FDA audit in 2019, among other issues. 

January – March 2022: The FDA conducted multiple inspections at the Sturgis plant over the course of three months in 2022. A ten-page inspection report revealed multiple violations at the facility.

The agency alleged the plant failed to ensure that all surfaces that contact infant formula were maintained to prevent cross-contamination.

The report states the facility ‘did not establish a system of process controls’ to ensure the baby formula ‘does not become adulterated due to the presence of microorganisms in the formula or the processing environment.’

Officials also alleged the plant failed to disclose in an investigation report whether a health hazard existed at the facility.

Additionally, the report stated plant workers were did not wear the ‘necessary protective material’ when working directly with infant formula.

February 17: U.S. health officials urgently warn parents against using three popular baby formulas manufactured at the Abbott plant in Michigan. Investigators claim the products were recently linked to bacterial contamination after an infant died and three others fell ill.

Abbott voluntarily recalled several major brands and shut down its Sturgis plant. 

The FDA also said it is investigating four reports of infants who were hospitalized after consuming the formula, including one who died.

February 28: Abbott Laboratories expanded its recall of Similac baby formulas after a second infant who was exposed to the powdered baby formula died.

April 15: Abbott releases a statement alleging it is working closely with the FDA to restart operations at the Sturgis plant. 

Week of April 24: The nationwide share of out-of-stock baby formula hit 40 percent. Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota, seemingly hardest hit by the shortages, reported out-of-stock rates of about 50 percent.

May 10: Abbott releases a statement to DailyMail.com claiming ‘thorough investigation’ by the FDA and Abbott revealed ‘infant formula produced at our Sturgis facility is not the likely source of infection in the reported cases and that there was not an outbreak caused by products from the facility’.

Abbott claims they are ‘working closely with the FDA to restart operations’ at the plant, with the spokesperson noting: ‘We continue to make progress on corrective actions and will be implementing additional actions as we work toward addressing items related to the recent recall’.

The FDA told DailyMail.com it was holding discussions with ‘Abbott and other manufacturers to increase production of different specialty and metabolic products’ but refused to say when the Sturgis plant could reopen.

Sen. Mitt Romney issued a letter to the FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging leaders to address the formula shortage and work to prevent future threats to infant health.

May 11: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill announce plans to hold a hearing in two weeks on infant formula shortages.

Abbott announced it would take up to ten weeks for the company to get baby formula to retailers once the Sturgis plant reopens.

Abbott also said: ‘After a thorough review of all available data, there is no evidence to link our formulas to these infant illnesses.’

May 12: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defends the government’s closure of the Abbott plant.

President Joe Biden met with executives from infant formula manufactures and retailers to address the shortage.

May 13: Biden addresses the formula crisis during a press briefing, saying: ‘We’re going to be, in a matter of weeks or less, getting significantly more formula on shelves.’ 

The FDA announced it was working to streamline a process that will get more products to consumers – while also meeting safety, quality and labeling standards 

May 16: Abbott and the FDA reach agreement to reopen baby formula facility in Michigan.

However, the FDA has yet to disclose a timeframe for allowing the plant to resume production. 

The FDA also implemented new measures, in effect for 180 days, to increase imports of baby formula produced overseas.

May 18: Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to boost baby formula production and issued a directive for planes to bring in supplies from overseas, after growing pressure from Congress.  

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