News of the flap over the shortage of subsidized infant formula earned a mention by Farid Farid writing for Vice News’ Motherboard, who also noted that the “response from Egyptian authorities had been confusing, with the health ministry advising that mothers resort to breastfeeding and buy the milk from new outlets.” Farid also notes: “Earlier this year, Ahmed El Awadi, a member of parliament, foreshadowed the current crisis, noting that Egypt’s armed forces were importing massive amounts of baby formula. The controversy escalated when an open letter from last year by the state-run pharmaceutical firm urging Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah El Sisi to intervene in a dispute with the [health] ministry began circulating online overnight.”