Huge Chinese demand forces UK supermarkets to ration baby foods
09 Apr 2013
Supermarkets in the UK have introduced rationing of infant formula as demand continued to rise in China for foreign-made baby milk.
According to Danone, the maker of the Aptamil and Cow & Gate brands, a limit of two packs per transaction had been put in place ''as a precautionary measure to prevent some individuals from bulk buying baby milk formula from retail outlets for commercial purposes".
The company added in a statement: "We understand that the increased demand is being fuelled by unofficial exports to China to satisfy the needs of parents who want Western brands."
The Chinese government last month said, nearly 300,000 children had been poisoned by tainted milk products and that six children had died since 2008.
According to supermarkets Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons, the purchase of certain brands had been limited to two units per customer per day.
The scandal in China had led to rising demand for imported baby milk, as safety fears increased around the world.
Several countries clamped a ban on Chinese-made dairy products or recalled these from supermarket shelves.
In February, officials in Hong Kong imposed limits on the amount of formula travellers could take back with them to China. Apologising to British parents for any inconvenience cause, Danone said it was working on measures, including increasing production of milk, as a result of the situation.
However, Nestle said that it had not called on retailers to limit supply as it did not have any evidence of bulk purchase of its SMA product for export.
A spokesman said the company was in the process of contacting all its retail customers to confirm this, and to notify them that it did not have – and did not anticipate – any stock issues for powdered infant milks.
According to a Sainsbury's spokesman, as a short term measure retailers, including Sainsbury's, were limiting the amount of baby milk powder that people could buy. In this way it aimed to ensure a constant supply for its customers and it hoped therefore hope they would not be inconvenienced.
According to a spokesman for Morrisons, none of its stores had been running out and that the restrictions would not affect many customers, who usually bought just one pack at a time.
