New Jersey’s federal representatives are stepping in to address the baby formula shortage.

Sen. Cory Booker has called the situation a “real crisis.”

“This is affecting New Jersey families in a way that is unacceptable,” Booker says.

The Democratic senator says that New Jersey is one of the hardest-hit states.

“Literally thousands of families are being hit hard. This is bad,” Booker says.

Booker spoke to News 12 New Jersey from his office in Washington. He says that President Joe Biden is focusing on the issue. Booker blames the Abbott recall and federal anti-trust laws going under-enforced with a lack of oversight by the Food and Drug Administration.

“We are seeing corporate concentration in ways that undermine – not just free marketplace, but ultimately when you have single companies that control such massive amounts of market share, it creates vulnerabilities for our communities and our families. It’s something that we should not allow.” Booker says.

The senator says that it is an issue that needs to be addressed – immediately when it comes to baby formula – but also long term across the food industry.

He says that he does applaud the steps New Jersey is taking to combat the issue – including Gov. Phil Murphy’s state of emergency that cracks down on price gouging.

Booker is one of eight senators who penned a letter to the secretary of agriculture requesting that the secretary do more to address corporate concentration within the infant formula industry. The senators say that four companies represent 90% of that industry.