Baking soda shortage may trigger health care crisis in US

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A shortage of baking soda may soon trigger a health care crisis in the United States.

Officials say that supplies of sodium bicarbonate, which is the same basic compound as baking soda and is widely used in medical procedures, is low.

The shortage is prompting limits on dozens of hospital treatments and health care providers are having to prioritize procedures and delay some surgeries.