By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Baby formula shortages are an ongoing problem and officials at a northeast Kansas health clinic are seeing the effects.
August Mason Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, Coordinator for the Doniphan County Health Department in Troy says she is seeing the effects of the formula crisis and her department is fielding calls every day.
"It's really having a more pronounced effect on the people who have specialty formulas, such as Nutramigen or Alimentum, for the other formulas we are able to kind of switch out from formula to formula," Mason tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Mason says the inquiries she receives most everyday are questions of where formula can be found.
But she says the other big question she hears almost daily, is what kinds of formulas can be interchanged.
"We have a very detailed list of what kinds of formulas can be interchanged, in addition WIC has been very liberal with what options we can use and what formula changeability there is," Mason explains
Mason says most formulas that aren't specialty based can be interchanged for other formula brands.
She also says a number of new mothers in Doniphan County have begun shifting to breastfeeding their babies.
The department recently released a list of helpful dos and don'ts that mothers can follow to keep their children safe. One tip was advising against making homemade formula.
Mason says people shouldn't attempt to make homemade formula because most homes don't have the necessary ingredients.
"They have vitamins, minerals, DHA's, RHA's, they have different things that you can't get from making your own," Mason says. "Plus, if you were to make your own it's not pasteurized."
Mason says the department just doesn't want mothers to try something that might harm their children. Health officials want mothers to be fully informed.