Calls for price cap on baby formula amid ‘disgusting’ rises
A distraught mother-of-two who is infuriated by the cost of feeding her baby has backed the idea of a price cap on all infant formula milk.
Hertfordshire mum Kerry Redmond, 27, spoke to Sky News about the dread she now feels walking into a supermarket to buy formula.
Kerry Redmond
It comes as:
- British brand Kendamil calls for more transparency on pricing
- A leading MP proposes a price cap on baby formula
- Charities and baby banks demand further action
- Calls for a UK Government inquiry continue
Ms Redmond told Sky News: “You feel uncomfortable even walking down the baby aisle looking at the baby milk because the staff think ‘oh they are going to nick that’.”
“It happened recently… I paid for my milk, and I went out the shop and the security guard followed me to the car because he thought I had nicked that milk and I had the receipt in my hand.
“You are treated as a criminal just because you want to go and buy baby milk.”
The mum-of-two is so infuriated by the situations where some families are resorting to unsafe feeding that she has started a petition calling on the government to intervene to help UK parents.
“When your child is hungry,” she said, “I would go to the end of the world and back to feed my kids but with everything going up it’s just not physically possible.
“It’s disgusting, I’m appalled by it. They have to do something.”
File pic
A Sky News investigation into the effects of price rises for formula milk found that parents are taking more extreme steps to feed their babies – including watering down feeds, substituting formula with condensed milk, stealing from the shops or buying open second-hand tubs of formula online.
Charities and infant feeding specialists warned that the UK is on the “brink of a public health crisis”.
Alison Thewliss MP, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infant Feeding, told Sky News: “The net effect is children growing up with developmental issues because they haven’t had the proper nutrition that is needed.
“That’s the kind of thing you see in countries where there has been famine or malnutrition or war. That should not be happening in the United Kingdom in 2023.”
The Glasgow Central SNP MP called for the UK government to conduct an immediate review into formula price increases and said: “I think it’s also important to see if the government could do something around a ceiling on the cost of infant formula because it is rising – rising significantly.
“The government have a role here and their role should be to make sure that babies get fed.”
She added: “There’s no reason why one (formula tub) should cost £10 and one should cost £15. And £10, I would say, is already too much for many families.”
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The ‘crisis’ in baby formula prices will lead to ‘consequences’ – Alison Thewliss
The baby formula industry finds itself under scrutiny and Kendamil, the only manufacturer based in the UK, has told Sky News companies could be doing more.
Every manufacturer we’ve spoken to blames significantly higher production costs for the price rises.
Kendamil’s commercial director, Will McMahon, spoke to Sky News inside their Cumbria factory.
He said: “We can’t ignore the macroeconomic shocks that we’ve had and the COVID disruptions to supply chains, the war in Ukraine and the massive impact on raw material inflation, energy price inflation. It is real.
“It’s been toughest on parents and it’s devastating to see… but it is the result of consistent cost price inflation led by the multinational conglomerates that control this market.
“Where we would like more transparency is about the enormous price discrepancies between very similar baby formulas.”
Read more:
What can you do if you’re struggling to buy baby formula?
The supermarket products which have doubled in price year on year
Soaring cost of baby formula leading to unsafe feeding practices
When pressed on whether the industry is truly trying to keep cost rises to a minimum, Mr McMahon said: “I don’t think that they are pricing those products as cheap as they could price them for families.”
New data from First Steps Nutrition shows average prices have risen 24% over the past two years.
The cheapest brand of formula milk, Aldi’s Mamia, has risen by 45% in the same time period.
Other brands have risen between 17% and 31% over two years.
The latest on the cost of living crisis
In response, Danone – the company which makes Aptamil and Cow&Gate formula – told Sky News it is trying to minimise price rises.
The firm added: “To help parents, we are working with key retailers to offer bigger format value packs, which we have also committed to keep at the same price to retailers throughout 2023.
“Ultimately, individual retailers set the selling price in their stores for all products.”
Nestle, which makes the SMA formula brands, said: “We are open to a discussion with government about how best to ensure that parents have reliable and safe access to formula for their babies.”
Aldi did not respond to our request for comment.
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When Sky News asked the prime minister about the prices of baby formula, Rishi Sunak said: “I know the cost of living is the number one challenge facing British families at the moment.
“With food in particular, which of course, is something we want to help with, we’ve got to recognise right now there are challenges across Europe, inflation rates in most European countries similar to ours.
“We have particular support for young families, something called Healthy Start vouchers, which provide money to young, young families with the costs of fresh food.
“But also the household support fund is £1bn that we’ve given to local councils that families can go and talk to their council about to get that extra support that’s specific there to help them.”
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‘I know it’s theft, but I think it’s criminal how much they charge for this stuff’
Campaigners and charities say the value of a Healthy Start voucher no longer covers the cost of a tub of formula milk and have called for it to be raised.
Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after several years of battling cancer.
The Irish star, 65, and her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne, had a run of hits in the late 1970s and ’80s – including the disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing.
Paying tribute on The Nolans‘ X account, her sisters described her as “a pop icon and beacon of hope”, who “faced incurable cancer with courage, grace and determination, inspiring millions”.
Linda died peacefully in hospital this morning, “embraced with love and comfort” with her siblings by her side, her agent Dermot McNamara said in a statement.
“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, touring the world and selling over 30 million records,” he said.
“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.”
As well as her TV and musical career, Linda helped to raise more than £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society, Samaritans and others.
“Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy,” Mr McNamara said.
Five of the Nolans in 1983 (L-R): Linda, Anne, Bernie, Coleen and Maureen. Pic: PA
Linda’s death came after she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia over the weekend. She began receiving end-of-life care after slipping into a coma on Tuesday.
Details of a celebration of the star’s “remarkable life” will be shared in due course.
Linda was born to Tommy and Maureen Nolan in Dublin on 23 February 1959, the sixth of eight children.
Her parents were both singers and keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe. Linda made her stage debut aged just four.
Those early years put the siblings on track for a career in show business which lasted for decades. As well as I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans had hits with Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and Don’t Make Waves, and they also had their own TV specials.
At their height, they toured with Frank Sinatra and were reported to have outsold The Beatles in Japan.
Linda left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances. She also became known for musical theatre, most notably performing the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years from 2000.
L-R: Bernie, Denise, Linda (top), Anne and Maureen Nolan pictured in 1975, before youngest sister Coleen joined the group
Four siblings struck by cancer
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent a mastectomy two days before her 47th birthday.
After being given the all-clear in 2011, in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Three years later, Linda and Anne together revealed they were being treated for cancer once again.
The sisters were diagnosed with different forms of the disease just days apart after they returned home from filming a series of their show, The Nolans Go Cruising. Linda had cancer of the liver, while Anne had breast cancer.
The star, pictured last year, had battled cancer for several years. Pic: Shutterstock
They went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey that included frank details of their treatments and the side effects.
But in 2023, Linda revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she was beginning treatment as part of a new drug trial.
The Nolans lost their second-youngest sister, Bernie, to cancer in 2013, aged 52.
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and said she was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it.
Linda’s husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson, died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Anne Nolan is now cancer-free.
Tributes to star ‘who was always a joy’
TV star and singer Cheryl Baker and comedian Tommy Cannon are among those who have paid tribute.
“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Linda Nolan,” Cannon wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with her on so many occasions, and she was always a joy – full of warmth and love. My thoughts and love are with the Nolan girls and the whole family.”
“The most incredible voice, the wickedest sense of humour, such a massive talent,” Baker wrote. “You’re with Brian now, Lin.”
Loose Women also sent its love to her family. Linda appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV chat show over the years, alongside her sister Coleen.
The Blackpool Grand Theatre described her as “a true Blackpool icon”.
A 20-year-old trainee gas engineer who won £7.5m says he was back working on blocked drains the day after claiming his cash.
James Clarkson, 20, from Carlisle, Cumbria, found out he’d hit the £7,533,329 National Lottery jackpot on 4 January – but said he has no plans to quit his job.
“I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won,” he said.
“It was a bit grim but that’s reality.
“I’m not going to stop working, I’m too young,” he added, admitting he knew it might sound “mad” to some.
“I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there.
“I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldn’t let me not work anyway. He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day.”
Mr Clarkson celebrating with his family. Pic: PA
Mr Clarkson added he still planned to have “some nice holidays” in between working, and revealed one of his first purchases was an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde, along with a few designer items including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself.
He said he also planned to splash out on a new car, possibly an Audi – but for now, he’s got his work van.
“If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you’d understand,” he said.
“The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds, not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive.”
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As a huge Manchester City fan, he said he was also looking to buy a season ticket at the Etihad Stadium, as well as taking care of his extended family – starting with paying off his parents’ mortgage.
The new multi-millionaire holds up bespoke Manchester City kit celebrating his win. Pic: PA
He said: “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, it’s what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed.
“We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isn’t just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit.”
Mr Clarkson played on the National Lottery app, choosing his winning numbers – 16, 19, 22, 24, 27 and 35 – at random.
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