Why this popular baby formula will be cheaper from next week
The company which produces Aptamil baby formula has agreed to cut their price by 7% after an investigation was launched into their high inflation.
Danone, which accounts for 71% of the baby formula market, raised their prices by 25% in two years, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found.
The French company’s pack of Cow & Gate 1 jumped by 31% between March 2021 and April 2023, while a 800g pack of Aptamil formula went up by 26%.
But the 7% cut only applies to Danone’s Aptamil formulas, not liquid baby milks or any of its Cow & Gate products.
Supermarket chain Iceland confirmed they would cut the price of three 800 g Aptamil powders from £12 to £11.20.
Ruchard Walker, the chair of the retailer’s parent group, welcomed Danone’s price reduction, saying: ‘Iceland has today announced another cut to the price of infant formula in our stores and we’re pleased to reveal Aptamil is reducing its price point across the wider market.
‘This isn’t the end though, it’s just a step in the right direction. We’ll keep doing all we can to change regulations about how our customers can purchase infant formula.’
FORMULA FOR CHANGE: HOW YOU CAN HELP
Join Metro.co.uk and Feed in calling on the government to urgently review their infant formula legislation and give retailers the green light to accept loyalty points, all food bank vouchers and store gift cards as payment for infant formula.
Our aim is to take our petition to No.10 to show the Prime Minister this is an issue that can no longer be ignored.
The more signatures we get, the louder our voice, so please click here to sign our Formula for Change petition.
Things need to change NOW.
Together with Metro and Feed, Iceland is calling on the government to slash the red tape to let grocers pass on savings to parents and let them accept loyalty points, store cards or food bank vouchers as payment.
Baby formula law, covered by the Food for Specific Groups (Information and Compositional Requirements) Regulations 2016, which implemented EU policy, aligns with guidelines by the World Health Organization (WHO), the government has long said.
More than 50,000 people have signed the Formula For Change petition, with Mr Walker saying: ‘With the Metro Formula for Change campaign, I admire anyone willing to put their head above the parapet to stick up for struggling families.
‘Ultimately, like Metro.co.uk and Feed,’ Mr Walker adds, ‘we’re just trying to do what’s right.’
The campaign beat other national media outlets to be given the prestigious Making A Difference award, which was voted for by the public.
In October Labour announced their support of the campaign, with Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting telling Metro.co.uk: ‘Regulations that prevent families from using foodbank vouchers to buy infant formula are no longer fit for purpose.’
The CMA launched their investigation last year after they were concerned the prices of infant formula were being raised higher than the rate of inflation.
They also found manufacturer’s feeding recommendations were ‘systematically higher’ than recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.
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