<2> Infant Formula Price Rises Condemned by Experts Amid Contamination Outbreak
<3> Shocking Price Hikes Despite Concerns of Unaffordability
The infant formula industry has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following a contamination outbreak that led to multiple manufacturers recalling their products. Amidst this crisis, a company involved in the outbreak has hiked its prices, sparking outrage from experts and campaigners.
<3> Danone’s Price Increases: A 17% Rise in Some Products
Danone, the manufacturer of popular Aptamil and Cow & Gate products, has increased the cost of some of its most popular formulas since September, according to an analysis by the charity First Steps Nutrition Trust. One product saw a staggering 17% price hike, further exacerbating concerns that the cost of infant formula is already too high.
<3> A 25% Average Price Increase in the Previous Two Years
This price increase comes despite a warning from the Competition and Markets Authority in February last year that the cost of branded formulas had increased by an average of 25% in the previous two years. This trend has been condemned by campaigners, who argue that unjustifiably high prices for infant formula are pushing parents, particularly those in lower-income families, into debt