SINGAPORE – When news that FairPrice had begun locking up infant milk formula to deter shoplifting went viral in January, there was some speculation online that the thefts were by cash-strapped parents.was because this was an item that was typically stolen, while the police said such thefts are not new, the majority of perpetrators did not have children under two years old that needed to consume the milk powder, and that the stolen items were being resold for profit.
The CCS also found that formula milk manufacturers, which provided formula milk in hospitals on a rotation basis, could ensure their products stayed on the rotation longer if they provided better sponsorship support to the hospital or paid “rotation fees”. To date, all public hospitals here are BFHI-certified, and one private hospital – Raffles Hospital – has been certified in October 2022.Champions of breastfeeding: Meet the women helping mums on their nursing journeysWhile the issue of milk theft has been clarified – and Singapore has taken steps to prevent parents’ anxieties from being exploited – aggressive tactics by the US$55billion formula milk industry continue unabated in many parts of the world.
Of these, three quarters did not cite scientific evidence to support their claims, and nearly 90 per cent of the clinical trials referred to had authors who received funding from or had ties to the formula industry, said the study, which called the marketing tactics “predatory”. However, “like many other companies”, it said it experienced higher supplier costs because of the global pandemic and inflation, leading to some price adjustments in 2022.
Three variants for children under three years old were priced under $30, less than half the price of comparable brands. Supermarket market chains themselves have tried to keep prices on an even keel, in spite of rising costs. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG In 2017, it brought in affordable options such as the Nature One Dairy Premium Newborn S1 formula, which retails at $32.80 for a 900g tin.
In Singapore, the Sales of Infant Foods Ethics Committee Singapore Code ensures optimal nutrition for infants, through the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by ensuring the proper and safe use of breast milk substitutes when necessary. In February, Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo said those who post commercial content without disclosing that they are sponsored are in breach of the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice .
One possible solution is to have governments or consumer watchdogs play a more active role in testing products in the market, she said.