Baby formula milk: UK watchdog launches probe as baby formula prices skyrocket, as parents paying £500 too much

Parents could be saving £500 in their baby's first year on formula milk, the UK’s industry watchdog has said amid soaring prices

A new probe into the supply of baby formula milk has been launched by Britain’s competition watchdog after it found that prices had soared by 25 per cent in the past two years.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has begun a market study into formula supply following findings from November of an initial review into the sector. It said last autumn the baby formula market was highly concentrated, with just two companies accounting for 85 per cent of sales.

This meant few parents had switched as prices rose, with the CMA revealing infant formula prices were up by a quarter on average over two years. It found parents could save more than £500 over the first year of a baby’s life by buying cheaper formula options.

A baby in a high chair looking towards her bottle of milk in the foreground. A new probe into the supply of baby formula milk has been launched by Britain's competition watchdog. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

The CMA said on Tuesday that while prices of some products have fallen since November, they remained “at historically high levels”. The market study will look to gather evidence on consumer behaviour, the role of regulation in the market and features of the formula market, such as barriers to entry and expansion.

The CMA plans to produce a final report in September. If it finds there are problems in the market, it could take actions, including recommending new regulations over how formula is marketed or on the information given to parents to help them choose formula brands.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: “Whilst it’s a positive sign that prices of some products have fallen since our update last November, the cost of infant milk remains at historically high levels.

“We’re concerned that parents don’t always have the right information to make informed choices and that suppliers may not have strong incentives to offer infant formula at competitive prices.

“We are determined to ensure this market is working well for the many new parents who depend on infant formula and it’s essential that any changes we propose are based on evidence and a strong understanding of the market.”

Its market study will also look at special medical formula milk, such as anti-reflux and comfort formulas, and so-called follow-on milk, as well as toddler milks.