The Food Foundation Podcast Parents under Pressure: The rising cost of baby formula
Mar 6, 2026
Glory Omoaka, parent and community advocate from Glasgow. Corin Bell, CEO of Alexandra Rose, who runs place-based voucher programmes. Amy Brown, public health professor specialising in infant feeding. They discuss rising formula costs, parents' lived struggles, voucher programmes and local delivery, gaps in policy and support, and calls for joined-up action to protect young children amid mounting food pressures.
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Childhood Diet Inequality Driven By Cost
- Rising food prices and inequality are concentrating harm on households with children, where food insecurity is around 15% and healthy food costs twice as much as less healthy options.
- The most deprived families would need ~70% of disposable income to follow government healthy diet guidance, driving stark obesity and dental decay gaps described by Amy Brown and Hannah Brinsden.
Feeding Choices Are Intertwined Not Binary
- Parents' feeding journeys are often mixed rather than strictly 'breastfeeding' or 'formula', so policy must reflect intertwined experiences.
- Amy Brown's UK research shows many mothers wanted to breastfeed but lacked support and then faced high formula costs and guilt.
Migrant Mother's Two Contrasting Feeding Experiences
- Glory Omoaka described having one child without needing support and a second child where limited income and lack of nearby family made feeding and navigation of services overwhelming.
- Her migrant experience highlighted hidden struggles many families face quietly when they lack extended support.