FORMULA BILL POWDER KEG FOR FAMILIES
Senator says parents struggling with high costs
PARENTS are “struggling to feed their children” due to a “dramatic increase” in the cost of baby formula, a senator said yesterday.
Labour’s Rebecca Moynihan has written to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to call for an investigation into the price increase.
She also called on parents to be allowed to use grocery money-back vouchers on formula.
Last month’s Consumer Price Index published by the Central Statistics Office noted the cost of baby food has climbed by 7% in a year.
In her letter to the CCPC, seen by the Irish Mirror, Senator Moynihan who is mum to 11-month-old Margot, said: “Many parents are struggling to feed their young children due to the dramatic increase in the price of name-brand formula and the absence of generic alternatives. Ireland is a net exporter of baby formula and we subsidise the manufacturing of baby formula through Enterprise Ireland.
“In theory that should be cutting costs of production and reducing prices for the Irish consumer. “Instead, vulnerable babies are at risk of hunger and parents are foregoing their own needs to afford the prices.
“In the UK, the competition regulator is investigating the baby formula market focusing on significant price increases, the lack of generic brand options and market monopolisation.
“We ask that you would commence an investigation into the market to prevent monopolisation by large companies and ensure there is adequate generic alternatives available for parents.” In a statement, Senator Moynihan accused manufacturers of “unacceptable price-gouging” and urged the Government to use statutory instruments to set price caps on formulas.
She said: “They should also allow supermarket vouchers, like Dunnes vouchers, apply to infant formula.
“Treating formula the same as alcohol for the application of vouchers stigmatises and helps no one. Baby formula must be treated as essential goods.
“By providing low-cost generic options directly to low-income parents, we can create a more equitable system, ensuring no one is left without access to essential nutrition for their infants.”
Irish law states there should not be “promotional devices” to “induce sales of infant formula directly to the consumer such as special displays, discount coupons, premiums, special sales, lossleaders and tie-ins”.