New Study Reveals Devastating Impact of Rising Infant Formula Costs on UK Families

New research co-authored by Cardiff Metropolitan University highlights growing concerns over infant food insecurity, parental wellbeing and safe feeding practices.

The study, Infant formula affordability negatively impacts parental wellbeing, financial security and safe feeding practices in the UK, has revealed the devastating toll that rising infant formula milk prices are having on families across the UK, forcing some parents into debt, unsafe feeding practices and severe emotional distress.

The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and provides the first comprehensive UK evidence of how the affordability of infant formula is affecting parents and babies.

Researchers examined the experiences of 281 parents through surveys and in-depth interviews and found that escalating formula prices are placing families under immense financial pressure while negatively affecting mental health and infant feeding decisions.

They found that almost all parents who took part reported adverse impacts on their mental wellbeing, with feelings of anxiety, guilt and isolation widespread among respondents. Some parents described experiencing such severe distress that they questioned their ability to cope, while others reported feelings of regret linked to the financial pressures of caring for a baby.

Among the key findings:

• Nearly 40 per cent of parents reported using potentially unsafe feeding practices, including watering down formula, reusing leftover milk and reducing sterilisation procedures.
• More than a third (37 per cent) left their homes unheated, while 43 per cent fell behind on household bills.
• Almost half (47 per cent) had accumulated debts they expected to struggle to repay.
• Twenty-one per cent of mothers reported returning to work earlier than planned because of financial pressures.
• Forty-eight per cent introduced solid foods earlier than recommended, while 45 per cent switched to cheaper milk products intended for older babies.
• Ten per cent reported taking infant formula from a shop without paying as a last resort.

The research comes against a backdrop of significant price increases in the infant formula market. Researchers note that formula prices rose by as much as 45 per cent between 2021 and 2023, while demand remains high, with more than half of babies in the UK receiving formula within their first week of life and 88 per cent receiving some formula by six months of age.

Dr Rhiannon Phillips, Deputy Associate Dean of Research at Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences and co-author of the study, said:

“These findings paint a concerning picture of the challenges facing families across the UK. No parent should be placed in a position where financial pressures force them to make impossible choices about how to feed their baby.

“Our research highlights the far-reaching consequences of formula affordability, not only for infant nutrition and health, but also for parental wellbeing, financial security and family life as a whole.

“The study reinforces the urgent need for action to ensure that all families have access to affordable infant feeding options, alongside high-quality support for those who want to breastfeed.

“Giving every child the best possible start in life must remain a public health priority. We need for coordinated action from policymakers, healthcare providers and industry to support families and safeguard infant food security, especially during the critical early months of life.”

Researchers are calling for a more holistic approach to infant feeding support, including greater investment in breastfeeding support services alongside measures to ensure formula-fed infants have reliable access to affordable nutrition.

The study was conducted by researchers from Cardiff Metropolitan University, Swansea University, the University of Hertfordshire, First Steps Nutrition Trust, Leicester Mammas, the Independent Food Aid Network and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.