Food Work in Troubled Times
In 2022, the Michigan-based Abbott Nutrition factory, a major manufacturer of infant formula, closed temporarily. This closure led to a crisis-level infant formula shortage that impacted caregivers in Canada and the U.S and highlighted the vulnerabilities of commercial access to infant food. The shortage added an extra layer of food work for caregivers, mainly mothers, who filled the gap left by corporate and policy supports in the wake of this crisis. Have a look at how caregivers found formula for themselves and others.
Hover over and click on the images below to read the caregivers notes on finding formula.
“It was a huge issue that mothers weren’t able to find food to keep their babies alive and the broader society seemed to barely notice.”
—Finding Formula research participant
