HOW MILK FORMULA COMPANIES ARE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SCIENCE

The report concludes that breastmilk substitute (BMS) manufacturers use product differentiation and 'premium' branding to increase profits rather than to improve nutritional outcomes. Analysis of over 400 products from Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott across 14 markets reveals that formulation variations are often based on market research and consumer willingness to pay rather than scientific rationale. This is particularly evident in high-growth Asian markets, where 'super-premium' formulas can cost a significant portion of a family's monthly salary.

• The nutritional quality of infant formula is largely left to industry self-regulation, with government food safety regulators providing very little oversight of compliance with regulatory standards.
• There is no clear scientific rationale for the vast range of products offered by the top four manufacturers; instead, product variations across different markets suggest that decisions are informed by market research into consumer preferences and affordability.
• Manufacturers use product differentiation to create 'premium' lines that significantly increase profit margins, leading to huge price disparities both within and between countries.
• The financial burden of 'super-premium' infant formula is most severe in Asian markets. In China, such products can cost nearly 40% of an average monthly salary, and in Indonesia, a parent could spend nearly three-quarters of their monthly income on Mead Johnson Nutrition’s Enfamil A+.
• The top four manufacturers reviewed—Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott—have a combined total of 419 products in the studied markets, with Danone selling the most (173) and Nestlé selling 165.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (n.d.). HOW MILK FORMULA COMPANIES ARE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SCIENCE. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Executive-summary-CM.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. HOW MILK FORMULA COMPANIES ARE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SCIENCE. n.d. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Executive-summary-CM.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=HOW MILK FORMULA COMPANIES ARE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SCIENCE |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Executive-summary-CM.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundationndhow, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{HOW MILK FORMULA COMPANIES ARE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SCIENCE}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Executive-summary-CM.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }