Recent social media posts appear to suggest the current baby formula shortage in the U.S. was caused by aid to Ukraine.

A May 12 Facebook post shows side-by-side images of news reports. A photo on the left includes cans of formula under the headline, "Operation Ukraine boxes baby formula to send overseas," dated March 7, 2022. The photo next to it, dated May 12, 2022, shows empty shelves under the headline, "Baby formula shortage hits parts of US."

Many of the comments on the post claim the U.S. government created the shortage.

But the comparison is deceiving, according to PolitiFact. There is no evidence this donation to Ukraine has any connection to the formula shortage.

The donation was organized by Columbus, Mississippi-based nonprofit Operation Ukraine, not the U.S. government. The group began gathering $10,000 worth of baby formula in March after Russia invaded Ukraine.

"We'll be providing supplies to both refugees and people who are still in Ukraine," Operation Ukraine founder Kathy Cadden told The Dispatch.

The formula shortage has been attributed to supply chain delays, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in the workforce. Additionally, a recall of some baby formula caused a manufacturing plant to shut down.

The $10,000 of baby formula collected by Operation Ukraine, at nearly $30 per 21-ounce can, is only about 333 cans. Not enough to have an effect on the U.S. shortage, PolitiFact said.

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