Formula milk now being rationed by UK baby banks as families struggle to afford soaring cost

Baby banks are being forced to ration formula milk because of soaring demand caused by desperate parents struggling to afford the rising cost of the product in stores.

Data from First Steps Nutrition showed average prices for baby formula rose by 22 per cent between March 2021 and April 2023, with the cost of feeding a 10-week-old baby as of August this year costing up to £89 per month.

The soaring prices have caused a surge in demand for baby banks, which provide help and essential items to families who need extra support, and have left some forced to ration formula milk to parents in need.

One baby bank in Swindon told Sky News it is now having to ration families to just one tub of formula per week, while High Peak Baby Bank in Derbyshire said it has restricted families to three tubs a month.

Speaking to The Independent . Asiza Tait, treasurer and trustee of Forest of Dean Baby Bank said: “Thankfully we’ve been able to meet the demand but it’s at least doubled. We’ve spent a lot more of our funding on formula recently and we’re had a lot more referrals for formula.

Has this affected you? Please get in touch by emailing athena.stavrou@independent.co.uk.

“The referrals have been a lot more urgent also, so they’re needed today. I can sometimes hear a child crying in the background, it’s a critical situation.”

She added: “If the demand gets any worse we’ll probably have to ration the formula because we’ll be thinking of trying to spread the resources. It’s not something we’d relish doing but we might be forced to.”

Another in Hartlepool told the broadcaster that they have had to implement restrictions for “the first time in our history, to keep up with demand”. On the other end of the country, Sebby’s Corner in Barnet, north London, said it has had “heartbreaking” conversations with families they cannot help.

The sky-rocketing price of baby formula is currently being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority, but UK-based baby formula manufacturer Kendamil said “macroeconomic shocks” caused by Covid-related disruptions to supply chains, the war in Ukraine and energy price inflation have played a role in cost rises.

The Scottish government is working to introduce new help for struggling families, which will see parents able to “access emergency financial assistance” so they can buy essentials such as baby formula in the supermarket rather than having to visit a baby bank.

But some parents have called for more help from Westminster, with one saying ministers “are not listening”.

open image in gallery

One mother told Sky News at the Swindon baby bank that, even with her maternity pay combined with her partner’s wage, they are still unable to afford baby essentials.

“It is literally a milk crisis,” she said. “It makes me feel so angry and irritated that parents are forced to feel ashamed that they can’t afford milk for their babies. The government are not listening.”

Another mother told the broadcaster: “Please help, help those mums, help those dads. Don’t ask questions, just do. Don’t sit there and judge and look and ponder just do it. It’s as simple as that.”

Earlier this year, it was reported that parents were having to resort to stealing baby formula as the cost of living crisis gripped the UK. It was reported that families were even buying the product on the black market, Facebook Marketplace or watering down milk.

A government spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact that rising prices are having at home, which is why halving inflation is our top priority and why we are providing significant support worth on average £3,300 per household. This includes uplifting benefits and delivering direct cash payments, while also delivering a record cash increase to the National Minimum Wage.”

They added that children eligible for the government Healthy Start scheme, which can be used to buy healthy food and formula, can claim £8.50 a week if under one-years old or £4.25 if aged between one and four.