When Chris Webb took to his feet in Parliament this week, it was his nine-month-old son, Cillian, at the front of his mind as he tried to convey the extent of the baby formula crisis to his peers.
‘It is a public health crisis,’ Chris told the Commons in an adjournment debate. ‘I regularly read heartbreaking posts from parents begging for baby milk to tide them over until the next pay day. They are in utter despair.’
The MPs address marked the first time the new Labour government has been called on in the House of Commons to address the crisis. Just days before, a newly-released interim report by the Competition Market Authority (CMA) called for better regulations to control the price and advertising of formula milk.
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Its is an essential product for many families, but with the average tub now costing up to £14.50, parents are resorting to extreme measures to feed their newborns. Shoplifting or ‘formula foraging’ seeking out free or cheap products online is not uncommon. Chris knows first-hand how expensive formula milk can be.
‘Cillian was premature and in hospital for several days,’ Chris, who represents Blackpool South, tells Metro. ‘My wife Portia and I had an incredible breastfeeding team but he just wasn’t taking to it, so I rushed out to get some formula at the supermarket. Tired and emotional, I stared at all the different brands on the shelves. “I need the best for my son,” I thought, and went for the most expensive one. I thought it must be the “best.”
Formula milk, also known as baby formula or infant formula, is usually made from cows milk that has been treated to make it more suitable for babies (Picture: Getty Images)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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‘At the time, I was on Jobseekers Allowance because I’d just lost my job after my boss passed away. There wasn’t a mad panic, but we were watching our income. As all parents do, we tried to save but the price of formula did make that harder.’
Chris took his young son to parent and toddler groups where he met mums who were struggling to afford their formula milk. Some had to borrow money in order to feed their child. Online, he read anonymous comments such as “I’m really embarrassed but Ive ran out of infant formula, can anyone help me out?” in local Facebook groups.
Chris also spotted formula milk in ‘security cages’ at his local supermarket. He questioned a security guard about it and learned it was the number one most stolen item at the store.
‘It’s heartbreaking. These people are just trying to keep their babies alive,’ says Chris.
‘It makes me so angry with the previous government for not resolving a clear issue. Parents on low incomes and innocent babies are now paying the price after 14 years of austerity.’
The CMA launched an investigation after finding that formula milk manufacturers raised prices by as much as 36% on some brands in just two years (Picture: Shutterstock / Olena Chukhil)
Sir Keir Starmer, with Chris Webb MP in Blackpool South (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)Chris is the latest MP to back Metro’s award-winning Formula for Change campaign. In partnership with charity Feed, we are calling on the government to do all they can to support new parents. Whats more, we want all retailers to accept loyalty points, all food bank vouchers and store gift cards as payment for infant formula.
The current Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, spoke exclusively to Metro in October 2023 to offer his support, while Labour’s Preet Kaur Gill MP and celebrities such as Michelle Heaton and Katherine Ryan have backed Formula for Change since it’s launch in 2022.
Now, Chris vows to ‘build on the campaign and make sure it stays on the new government’s agenda,’ and hold his party colleagues to account in the fight to bring down costs of infant milk.
‘We [MPs] were sent here by our constituents,’ he says.
‘Country first, party second. I want to play a part in bringing this back to the agenda so the new government can see what measures can be brought in and what changes can be made for parents who are struggling. They’re not asking for freebies, theyre not asking for handouts, they’re just asking for a little bit of help.
This is about babies who don’t have a voice and parents who don’t know where to turn.’
Chris Webb is calling for tighter pricing regulations on the sale of baby formula (Picture: Chris Webb)
He has met with new parents in his Blackpool constituency to find out more abut the pressures facing families amid the cost of living crisis (Picture: Chris Webb)Recent data from YouGov shows that one in four mothers are struggling to afford formula milk. Over the past two years, the cheapest brand of formula has risen by 45%, with an average price hike across all brands of 25%.
In Chris’s own constituency of Blackpool South, where he volunteers at a local foodbank, child poverty has increased by 30% in the last year and 12,500 children go without enough food each day. In parliament last night, the politician argued that food bank vouchers should be able to be used to purchase infant formula in supermarkets and that companies should follow the lead of Aldi and Lidl in bringing down costs of essential items for new parents.
In the Commons last night, Chris told the room: ‘Raising a child is one of the most challenging and demanding things we can do in our adult lives. his government’s policies must lighten the load of parents to ensure that it can also be one of the most rewarding. And we must ensure that every child in this country can have a healthy start in life.’
Responding to Chris’ points, Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, said that children ‘are at the centre of our [Labour’s] health mission.’
He added: ‘I understand that many families are struggling to meet the cost of feeding their baby, and the Government are committed to helping families most in need to access support.
The Budget announcement on extending the household support fund will help those facing financial hardship with the cost of essentials. The Government’s Healthy Start scheme promotes a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies and young children by providing funds that can be used to buy or be put towards the cost of infant formula, as well as fruit and vegetables, pulses and milk.’
Iceland boss pleased at report findings
Richard Walker at Iceland HQ in Flintshire, North Wales (Picture: Richard Saker/REX/Shutterstock)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found prices for formula in the UK jumped between 18% and 36%, depending on the brand, over the two years between December 2021 and December 2023.
Richard Walker, Executive Chairman at Iceland Foods told Metro: Following our campaign around combatting the price inflation of early years formula, Ive been pleased today to see the first update from the CMAs ongoing investigation.
The findings in todays report echo what weve seen and heard directly from our customers over the past year and a half, that they were hurting when it came to the cost-of-living, and Im glad to see that the spotlight our efforts have given the issue has led to a regulatory response, which will hopefully drive through lasting change.
We were the first supermarket to take the bold step of lowering baby formula prices, and break a few rules in the process, which I was happy to see several of our competitors follow suit with. Theres no question that there is still work to be done, but the drop in formula prices across the market has meant more families can access this essential product at an affordable price.
Rest assured, were keeping a close eye on the market, and we hope to see changes to the rules around price promotion in retail, as suggested in the potential remedies today by the CMA.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Kirsten.Robertson@metro.co.uk
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