Shortage of infant formula in Australia

Proof of dairy product market buoyancy has come from Australia, where parents are trying to cope with an infant formula shortage.

Supermarket shelves are being stripped clean of Danone Nutricia’s Karicare and Aptamil brands of formula.

The shortage comes despite a Woolworths four-can limit on purchases, imposed after it was revealed last year that Chinese students were buying it in bulk to send to China.

The global market buoyancy for infant formula is good news for Ireland, where three of the four largest infant formula companies in the world produce almost 10% of global supplies.

Danone Nurtricia in Australia confirmed it has experienced an increase in demand for Karicare and Aptamil, “resulting in some short term out of stocks on supermarket and pharmacy shelves”.

Base powder for the products is being sourced from new suppliers in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, following last year’s scare over possible botulism contamination of whey protein supplied by Fonterra of New Zealand. The formula was later cleared of any problems, but Danone Nutricia has since moved to change its suppliers.