Parents Turn to Facebook as Baby Formula Prices Soar 68%

URGENT UPDATE: Parents across Canada are increasingly turning to Facebook to buy baby formula as prices skyrocket, with some reporting that costs have nearly doubled since the pandemic. New data reveals that the average price of baby formula now stands at $50.27 for 900 grams, a staggering increase from just $29.36 in 2020.

In a vivid example, Tonmoy Chakraborty shared his experience after he found himself with 18 bottles of Enfamil baby formula that his daughter didn’t like. Posting on the Facebook group Baby Formula Share Toronto, he wrote, “Willing to let go at $135 for both — pickup in Scarborough.” Within an hour, he received an overwhelming response, with many offering to drive long distances to purchase the formula at reduced prices. Chakraborty reflected, “For some, it might be forty or fifty percent of their weekly paycheck. That’s not a position any parent should be in.”

Multiple Facebook groups are emerging as vital lifelines, with parents frequently posting urgent requests for baby formula. Maryrose Inserto, who runs the Toronto Moms & Babies Free Stuff group, noted that requests for formula occur almost every other day. She shared her own struggles: “We’ve cut down on outings just to ensure we have money for formula, especially since my daughter needs specialty formula.”

The alarming rise in prices is attributed to several factors, including food safety issues at Abbott and Nestle plants in the U.S., which have significantly reduced production. According to Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, baby formula prices have surged by 68 percent over the last five years, making it the most increased product in Canada during that period.

Despite Health Canada’s efforts to stabilize the supply, including permitting imports from Europe, parents are still facing high costs. Charlebois emphasized Canada’s reliance on U.S. imports under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), stating, “We’re heavily dependent on the U.S., and that’s by design.”

Food banks are also feeling the strain, as they struggle to meet the rising demand for baby formula. Natasha Bowes of North York Harvest Food Bank reported, “We never get formula donated. It is one of the top items that families seek.” She revealed that over 53 percent of families are skipping meals to afford essential items, including baby formula.

Volunteers like Trevor Nicolle at St. Paul’s on-the-Hill Community Food Bank in Pickering, Ontario, described the growing pressure on food banks, which now serve not only local families but also asylum seekers and refugees. “We have to ration what we have available,” Nicolle said.

Health Canada has committed to working closely with manufacturers to ensure a stable supply of infant formulas. Currently, more than 70 products are eligible for temporary importation to help ease the pressure on parents. The agency states that the list of eligible products is updated regularly to strengthen supply where needed.

As parents scramble for affordable baby formula, the situation remains dire. The emotional toll on families is palpable, with many forced to make tough choices between essentials. Parents are urged to stay connected through community resources and online platforms as they navigate this critical period.

Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.