‘Baby formula security tagged to prevent theft as prices soar’

Some of the baby formula is now so expensive that it is security tagged as families have now resorted to stealing, a Glasgow Central MP informed the Commons on Thursday (14).

“One of the most worrying increases in food prices is for infant formula, some of which is now so expensive it is security tagged and kept behind the till because families have resorted to stealing it,” Alison Thewliss, SNP MP for Glasgow Central, told the House of Commons.

“What is the Government doing to make sure that infant formula is available to families who need it? Because at this price many cannot afford it at all.”

Responding to Thewliss’ claims, Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse replied that the government is “monitoring all prices, particularly in vital areas like formula”.

“We have put something like £37 billion now into the system to assist families, but we constantly keep these things under review and will act if needed,” Malthouse said. 

Speaking after the debate in parliament, Thewliss criticised the government’s response to her concerns.

“The increasing cost of infant formula is a real issue for many families right now – it’s an essential that they simply cannot cut back on,” she said.

“The response from Kit Malthouse lacks urgency. The UK government must act now to ensure families who need infant formula can afford to access it. A good start would be increasing the money available to families, as Scotland has done through the Scottish child payment, and scrapping the two-child limit in universal credit, which now affects 359,000 households and 1.3 million children,” Thewliss said.

Concerns have been raised that the government’s cost of living support may not be sufficient after analysts predicted another steep rise in energy costs this winter.

The reports of security tags eing used on baby formula comes a week after it was reported that cost of a single tub of Lurpak butter has soared to £7.20 and some stores are using tags on it to prevent it from being stolen.

This week, Iceland’s managing director explained how his staff had also seen a rise in shoplifting in stores as the cost of living crisis worsens.