Formula industry ‘exploiting fears’ of vulnerable groups

Ireland’s €1.2bn infant formula industry has been accused of exploiting fears among vulnerable populations to gain market share and adding unnecessary extra ingredients purely to charge a premium price.

A report published today points the finger at the world’s top four infant formula producers, three of which — Nestle, Danone, and Abbott — have plants here. It says their practices, while legal, are unethical and in breach of a voluntary World Health Organization code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes — a claim the companies deny.

The report, by the non-profit, UK-based Changing Markets Foundation, singles out Ireland because of the rapid growth of the industry here and its aggressive targeting of the Chinese market.