July 13, 2025

Operation Fly Formula: Vilsack visits Indiana for formula drop-off

By Erica Quinlan

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met the first shipment of baby formula that was transported from Europe by the military in Operation Fly Formula to Indianapolis on May 22. (USDA photo/USDA photo)

INDIANAPOLIS — Operation Fly Formula touched down in Indianapolis on May 22 to deliver a large stock of infant formula.

The U.S. military aircraft departed Europe with 132 pallets of Nestlé Health Science Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior formula to Indianapolis.

These formulas were prioritized because they are in short supply in the United States due to the closure of the Abbott Nutrition plant in Sturgis, Michigan. Additional flights will be announced soon.

Operation Fly Formula U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 721st Aerial Port Squadron place pallets of infant formula at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The infant formula arrived from Switzerland as part of the U.S. government’s Operation Fly Formula to rapidly transport infant formula to the United States due to critical shortages. The formula was loaded and transported to Indiana via a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III coordinated by U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/USAF photo)

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Indianapolis to greet the arrival.

The Operation Fly Formula shipments will transport the equivalent of up to 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three types of formulas.

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Erica Quinlan

Erica Quinlan

Field Editor