Latest news with #FormulaforChange
Metro
5 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Aldi freezes price of baby formula for the rest of 2025
Aldi has pledged to keep its own-brand baby formula at £6.99 a tin for 'at least' the rest of the year. The supermarket made headlines last year after cutting the price within 48 hours of Iceland announcing its own plans to make milk more affordable for parents. Their Mamia milk is now even cheaper, and they say it is £5 less than the average sold elsewhere. Infant formula is required by law to meet the same standards, so all brands will give roughly the same nutrition, although some use goat milk or organic ingredients. However, the high price of formula has been in the spotlight, following Metro's Formula for Change campaign in partnership with the charity Feed. In April, the team went to parliament with over 100,000 signatures, urging for changes in the law to make it more accessible and affordable. The campaign urged the government to 'give retailers the green light to accept loyalty points, grocery vouchers provided by foodbanks and local authorities, and store gift cards as payment for infant formula'. Following Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommendations, the government is expected to make an announcement soon about what they will do to help parents with formula costs. Since 2021, the cost of formula has skyrocketed. The most expensive brand on the market, Aptamil Advanced, is now sold for £18 a tub. Desperate parents have been reduced to watering it down, going hungry themselves, and even stealing tubs off shop shelves, to ensure their babies get fed. While the World Health Organisation recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life, there are many reasons why a parent might not do that, from adoption and cancer treatments to personal choice. In February, the CMA released a report which found prices for infant formula increased by over 25% between March 2021 and April 2023. It said this could be due to 'weak or ineffective competition', with sellers not given enough incentives to offer it at lower prices. There are also 'limited own-label alternatives', unlike for most other groceries, it added. They recommended that shoppers should be able to use loyalty points and gift cards to buy formula, although said the restrictions on advertising and promotions should remain. More Trending Aldi, the UK's fourth largest supermarket, said it made the commitment ahead of the government's expected response to the report. Julie Ashfield, Aldi's chief commercial officer, said: 'Shoppers should not be paying over the odds for the essentials. 'As the UK's cheapest supermarket, we're committed to keeping prices low on the products our customers rely on most. 'As formula prices remain at historic highs across the market, we want to reassure parents that at Aldi, there will be no unwelcome surprises at the checkout – we're keeping our Mamia First Infant Formula at just £6.99 for at least the remainder of this year.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: I cried when my child came out as trans – now I understand MORE: The Doctor Who finale will 'shock and terrify' — here's what parents need to know MORE: Days after my son's birth, I made a life-changing realisation
Metro
01-05-2025
- Health
- Metro
Mums 'made to feel they're letting their babies down' by the NHS
Mothers are being 'set up to fail' by the NHS for not supporting them enough when it comes to infant feeding, a charity has reported. The health service recommends that mothers breastfeed – so their babies only consume breast milk – for at least six months, yet only half of mums who intend to do this end up doing so, according to family support charity Feed. Many women have told the charity that this 'ideal' is simply not realistic and have described the information the NHS has supplied them on formula as 'spotty' at best. One even claimed that she was told that it was the equivalent of feeding her baby 'greasy fried chicken'. Feed add that what 'minimal' support is available doesn't touch on enough the 'risks and benefits of infant feeding methods', negatively impacting women's mental health. The report, which Metro had exclusive sight of ahead of it's release today, comes a week after Metro and Feed handed their Formula for Change petition to Downing Street, demanding that the government do more to make formula milk accessible and affordable. The NHS offers several support options for mums, on top of online explainers on 'how to breastfeed' and the benefits of it. Midwives, healthy visitors and volunteers offer one-on-one help, while an NHS webpage also recommends parents try breastfeeding drop-ins. However, many of the 830 women Feed spoke with in conjunction with women's charity The Lowdown, believe that NHS advice – known as delivered infant feeding care – leaves women unprepared, with more than half (52%) saying the information they received did not equip them for their baby feeding journey. One mother called Ann* told the report: 'I had no idea how difficult it was going to be with issues around getting a latch in the golden hours; how painful it could be; how all-consuming it is.' The early days of nursing can be difficult for many new mothers. About 30% of women struggled with at least one complication, such as latching pain, cracked nipples or sore breasts, according to the NHS' Infant Feeding Survey. While many mums said breastfeeding gets easier over time, only one in 10 of the women surveyed by Feed felt the NHS prepared them enough. Similar challenges were faced by women who fed formula. For new mothers surviving on little sleep, the lack of help from the NHS on issues like sterilisation, preparation and quantities left them 'on their own'. Fewer than one in 10 women said they were given information on how to safely prepare powdered formula. Just 4% said they were given all the information and support they needed about formula feeding, and 57% had to find information elsewhere. 'We were encouraged so heavily to breastfeed but then when we had weight issues, the [Health Visitor] wanted to move us to formula without trying interventions first,' one mother called Ruth said. 'I had to fight to see any support. This made me feel like I'd failed my child. I now combi feed and use ready-to-drink bottles as I still don't know how to prepare powder formula.' Some of the mums surveyed also revealed that it felt like NHS staff 'couldn't mention formula.' 'One supportive home-visiting midwife 'took her official NHS hat off' and unofficially told us that it wasn't uncommon to be unable to breastfeed after a traumatic birth (which no one had told us). And that she had fed two of her own children with formula and they had thrived,' Mena* told the report. Breast milk has nutritional and health benefits for babies, such as protecting them from illnesses like diabetes. Formula milk, typically made from cow's milk, is the only safe alternative to using breast milk for infants under a year. While some mothers choose to formula feed, for other parents it can be the only option for several reasons, such as health issues or adoption. The report also found that half of all women surveyed said breastfeeding challenges made them feel low or anxious and question how they felt as a mum. Stigma around formula use was widespread – 75% of women who used it felt some guilt or shame, while one in four wouldn't even tell someone they did it. As Diane* said: 'I got post-natal depression and in the end felt very low about breastfeeding but felt so guilty for stopping and switching to formula. I thought I was letting my baby down.' Another parent, Imogen*, recalled: 'A lactation consultant told me that feeding my son formula was like feeding him a greasy fried chicken dinner, and that feeding him breastmilk was like feeding him a nutritious salad. 'It made me feel so much shame, and pushed me to attempt to breastfeed far longer than was optimal for mine and my baby's health.' Feed said that the current NHS infant feeding policy is 'failing women and their families' and needs to be reformed, focusing on 'honest information' about breastfeeding challenges and 'balanced advice' around formula. Dr Erin Williams, co-founder of the charity, added: 'Reading what women go through to feed their babies was heartbreaking. More Trending 'So many mums felt judged, let down, or completely alone. It's clear the policies in place aren't working for anyone — they're not supporting real families in the real world. 'This isn't just about feeding, it's about how we treat mothers. Things have to change, and they have to change now.' The NHS has been approached for comment. *Names have been changed Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The 'ultimate workplace hack' dividing parents and non-parents MORE: I told Mum my baby's name – she thought I was joking MORE: TV soap story prompts 5,000 blood donations leaving girl's family 'gobsmacked'
Metro
24-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
Metro's Formula for Change campaign heads to Downing Street
Having gained over 107,000 signatures, Metro and the family support charity Feed delivered their Formula for Change petition to the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting today, to demand more is done to make infant formula accessible and affordable to all families. Launched in 2023, our award-winning campaign has continued to raise awareness of the impact of soaring formula prices, which have rocketed by 25% in the past two years. Under current guidelines, formula falls into the same category as tobacco and lottery items, and isn't available to purchase with cash alternatives. However, without loyalty points and grocery vouchers provided by local councils and food banks to those struggling the most, parents at the sharpest end of the cost-of-living crisis have few options. Some families are even being forced into unsafe infant feeding practices that put their babies' health at risk, while others are formula foraging, or stealing formula to feed their children. This is why the Formula for Change petition is urgently calling on the UK Government to review infant formula legislation and give retailers a clear green light to accept loyalty points, grocery vouchers provided by food banks and local authorities, and store gift cards as payment for infant formula. While we know this measure alone won't solve the problem, it will increase options for families. The Westminster visit follows the Competition and Markets Authority's recommendations that vouchers and loyalty points should be allowed when buying infant the CMA's suggestion, the government has yet to comment on the issue. When a petition exceeds 100,000, it is considered for debate in Parliament, and today's milestone achievement saw key figures in the campaign's success visit No.10 to hand-deliver the document. Metro deputy editor Claie Wilson, journalist Kat Romero and founder of Feed Dr Erin Williams headed to No. 10 with MP Chris Webb and celebrity supporters LadBaby's Mark Hoyle and wife Roxanne, who have been instrumental in the campaign by garnering support across their social media platforms and sharing their own experiences of food poverty. Outside No. 10, Mark told Metro: 'We're hoping this is going to make such a huge difference to so many families in the UK.' Roxanne added: 'We wanted to be involved in the campaign because Mark and I meet parents who have cried at the checkout because they haven't been able to use their vouchers to get formula. 'It's really important we're not judging families. Every baby deserves to be fed.' Metro's Claie Wilson said: 'I am so proud of the work we have done to raise awareness of the formula crisis in the UK and also so pleased to see so many others share their support and help make change. 'Now we just need the government to do their bit. Last year, Wes Streeting promised to 'get it done', yet we're still waiting, and families are still struggling. It is time to follow through on their pledge to help formula feeding parents.' Erin Williams, founder of Feed, expressed how proud she was of how far the campaign has come in two years, but also admitted that there was still work to be done. Desperate parents have been reduced to watering down formula and even stealing tubs off shop shelves to ensure their babies get fed. 'We've had great success in bringing down the prices of formula across the board, so families can still feed their children when money is tight,' Erin told Metro. 'We're under no illusion that this will solve all the problems, but little actions can have big consequences. 'We don't need to change any laws or have big debates; change can be done without that, and it can be done quickly.' Blackpool South's Chris Webb MP also joined the campaign team to deliver the petition, after recently raising the issue in the House of Commons and holding a drop-in event at Westminster to highlight the campaign to fellow MPs. He said: 'Today really puts into focus how much support this campaign has gathered across the UK, from normal working-class people to celebrities. It's great to be able to hand that over to make sure their voices are all heard.' Speaking about his personal reason for wanting to be involved, Chris explained: 'When I had my son last year, I went to baby groups. I saw mums struggling, asking for tubs of formula, and the same at food are babies that are going hungry. Families need help. 'I looked for campaigns that were trying to provide this, and I found Formula for Change, so I reached out and have done what I can from my part. 'We're heading in the right direction and we won't stop until formula is accessible to all.' Further Formula For Change supporters came to Parliament Square to share the moment, including director Naomi Waring, whose short film about the formula crisis, Milk, was produced by Sienna Miller. Founders of baby banks The Space, Little Village and Abernecessities, and Change Box also attended. Since its launch, there have been many wins for the Formula for Change campaign. Iceland was the first high street retailer to allow loyalty vouchers and gift cards to purchase baby formula. They also took the lead in providing clear labelling on baby formula to inform parents that all first infant formulas are nutritionally equivalent, regardless of brand or price. Richard Walker, Executive Chairman of Iceland Foods said: 'Formula for Change truly is a life-changing campaign for thousands of parents, and I've been so proud that we have supported its efforts as a business. More Trending 'The work conducted by the team at Metro and Feed has been astonishing, and I fully support the petition they have delivered to No.10 today. It's vital that the Government supports the CMA's recommendations so we can make the formula affordable and accessible for all.' Morrison's has also gone on to allow other forms of payment for infant formula, while the Department of Health and Social Care officially confirmed that food and baby banks can supply cash-strapped families with formula tubs. Since 2023, the campaign has received the backing of several MPs, including Monica Lennon, Preet Kaur Gill and celebrities Katherine Ryan, Ashley James and Michelle Heaton are among the famous faces who have voiced their support. The campaign has also been given the prestigious Making a Difference award, which was voted for by the public, acknowledging Formula For Change's drive for change. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Lidl has slashed the price of its best bakery items to just 29p MORE: Nationwide shares major update on £100 customer bonus payout date MORE: MP's 'starter kit' containing laptop went missing from Commons' cloakroom
