CAMPAIGN UPDATE: ACCESS TO INFANT FORMULA

Back in November, I launched a campaign to make infant formula more affordable and accessible, starting with a debate in Parliament on the strict regulations that govern it.

These regulations exist for good reason – to protect and promote breastfeeding – but for many families across the UK, including my own, infant formula isn’t a choice – it’s a necessity. Whether due to medical issues, work circumstances, or personal situations, many parents rely on formula to feed their babies. Yet far too many families, particularly those experiencing food insecurity, struggle to access this basic need.

Thanks to generous donations, my office has been able to directly support families in Blackpool South by providing them with infant formula. The bulk of these donations I have given to Blackpool Food Bank which is distributing it to others in need. I'm continuing to work with manufacturers and retailers to maintain this supply and secure further donations. But this is only one part of a much wider strategy.

Babies need to eat, and when parents are out of options, they deserve safe, immediate support.

Providing formula through food banks is not about replacing long-term public health efforts with short-term fixes. It’s about recognising urgent need. Babies need to eat, and when parents are out of options, they deserve safe, immediate support. Unsafe practices – such as diluting formula or resorting to unregulated foods – pose a serious risk to infant health. That’s why, under existing regulations, the distribution of formula by food banks is permitted, and the government has recently affirmed that position to me. And while it's not ideal for any family to rely on emergency support for essentials like infant formula, the alternative – leaving parents without anywhere to turn – is unacceptable.

Among the campaign’s successes so far – I’ve ensured vouchers from local authorities and food banks can be used to purchase formula. I also hosted a parliamentary drop-in in partnership with Feed UK, bringing together MPs, charities and campaigners to develop solutions. Organisations like the Food Chain, the National Aids Trust, and FareShare have joined the conversation, recognising the intersection between infant feeding, poverty and public health. And I’ve taken this campaign beyond Westminster too – building partnerships with the Jamie Oliver Foundation, the Joseph Rowentree Foundation and the Trussell Trust to strengthen support for Blackpool families more broadly.

A major milestone came in February with the release of the Competition and Markets Authority’s report on the infant formula market. It revealed weak competition, high prices and significant consumer vulnerability. The CMA acknowledged that while existing advertising restrictions aim to protect breastfeeding, they’ve inadvertently reduced price transparency and limited parents’ ability to make informed, cost-effective choices. The CMA stopped short of recommending price caps, but proposed several reforms – many of which align with what I’ve already been campaigning for.

I’ve engaged directly with supermarkets to encourage the introduction of affordable own-brand options, and I’ve visited Kendamill (the only UK-based manufacturer) and met with Danone to push for further support. Supermarkets and suppliers must be part of the solution.

I remain in regular discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care, the local Public Health team to ensure this campaign complements broader public health goals. I’ve also requested a roundtable with the Health Minister to bring together all relevant stakeholders, and I plan to continue pressing the government to act on the CMA’s findings.

This campaign has always been about fairness, compassion and realism. I’ll keep fighting to make sure that no parent has to choose between feeding their baby and staying afloat financially. Because every child deserves the best start in life – and every family deserves the support they need to provide it.