About the Survey

The Formula Shortage Impact Research (FSIR) survey is a research tool designed to collect and organize information about the emotional, financial, health and community impacts of the formula shortage that began in 2020. The shortages were the result of safety recalls for bacterial contamination, supply chain interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a major production plant closure due to unsafe practices and poorly maintained equipment. 

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete and askes questions about the person taking the survey, the baby who was being formula fed, how far families had to travel to get formula, how often they had to buy formula, how the shortage made them feel, feeding choices families made when formula wasn't available and information about the financial impact this shortage had on their family. Most of the individual sections are questions from validated research tools, which makes the data easier to analyze and the results more likely to be valid and reliable. 

This research is under review by an expert panel on the ethics of community-based research, and when approval is received, the survey will be available for participants to take. The target date for availability is July 1, 2022. The survey will be open for several months.