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Baby Formula In Demand At Tampa Area Food Banks

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

The cost of baby formula is making national news after Jeri Moss diluted her baby's formula too much in an attempt to make it last longer.

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By MARY SHEDDEN

mshedden@tampatrib.com

Published: December 2, 2008

Updated:

TAMPA - Baby formula is expensive. That fact nearly led to the death of a 5-month-old last week and it keeps donors from stocking food banks with the nourishment so vital to infants who aren't breast-fed.

The poor economy has more people than ever asking for formula at local food banks and service agencies, representatives said today. Feeding an infant can cost close to $100 a month, and programs such as Women, Infants and Children provide only 70 to 80 percent of what a baby needs — and only for families that qualify for the aid.

One of the few other options for needy families with infants: food banks or charity. But these groups don't receive formula donations as frequently as less-expensive cans and boxes of grocery staples, said Marc Sutherland, Resource Development Director for America's Second Harvest Tampa Bay.

"One can of formula is the equivalent of a lot of cans of food," said Sutherland, whose organization distributes food to 350 area programs and charities.

Infant formula is critical to infants not being breast-fed, and if misused, can result in dangerous consequences for babies younger than a year. Adding too much water to the formula to stretch the supply can lead to malnutrition and water intoxication, which is what happened to 5-month-old La'Damian Barton. His mother said she had no idea her effort to save money could lead to seizures, brain damage and damage to underdeveloped organs.

The baby is expected to be released from University Community Hospital soon.

Infant formula comes in both powder and premixed forms and can cost more than $1,100 during a child's first year, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the federal WIC program. The program provides a maximum of nine bottles of powder and premade formula a month to recipients. That includes 34,000 families a month in Hillsborough County.

"Formula is everything. We get three meals a day, but we have to provide that to an infant every two hours," said Barbara Macelli, program director for Healthy Families of Hillsborough County, a childhood health resource agency. "That's their job: to eat."

Tampa's Metropolitan Ministries estimates it helps about 120 homeless and needy families a day with food, clothing and shelter. Food boxes include baby food and formula, when it's available. Diapers, especially sizes 5 and 6, are always in high demand, said spokeswoman Anna Mendez.

Few people realize how many infants face hunger here in the Tampa Bay area, said Susan Martin-Warren, a trainer with Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, a maternal and child health agency. She wondered why, during the holidays, offers to help don't focus on the babies most in need.

"Why do we have turkey drives when we should be holding formula drives?"

Where To Give, Get Formula

Some who read today's story about La'Damian Barton on TBO.com and in The Tampa Tribune asked how they could donate formula directly to the little boy. So far, there is no agency in a position to serve as a clearinghouse for donations to a single child.

America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay, a food bank distributor for 350 Tampa Bay area charities and groups: (813) 254-1190 or msutherland@a2htampabay.org

Metropolitan Ministries, serves area's poor and homeless families: (813) 209-1000

St. Pete Free Clinic Food Bank, a food bank distributor for more than 60 area food pantries, shelters and kitchens: (727) 821-1200, ext. 109

SHARE Florida Food Network, offers discounts on groceries (not including infant formula) to individuals who volunteer time with the group: (800) 536-3379. (What's saved on groceries can be spent on formula)

Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, maternal and child health agency: (813) 233-2800

Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program of Hillsborough County, provides supplemental assistance to pregnant women and families with children up to age 5: (813) 307-8074

Department of Children & Families of Hillsborough County, state agency providing resources to families and children in need: (813) 558-5500

Tampa Tribune reporter Sherri Ackerman and WFLA reporter Katie Coronado contributed to this report. Reporter Mary Shedden can be reached at (813)259-7365.

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