Milking it

The report examines the practices of Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott, concluding that the proliferation of 'premium' and 'specialised' infant formulas is a strategy to increase market share and profit margins, particularly in Asia, often at the expense of breastfeeding promotion and consumer affordability.

• The four largest infant formula manufacturers—Nestlé, Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Abbott—utilize product differentiation based on market research and consumer preferences rather than scientific or health considerations to increase profits.
• There is a significant disparity in the pricing of infant formula both within and between countries, with 'premium' products costing substantially more in Asian markets. In Indonesia, the most expensive first infant formula (Enfamil A+) is 4.5 times the price of the economy brand (SGM Ananda Presinutri 1).
• The same brand of formula is often priced differently across countries; for example, Danone's Aptamil Profutura 1 costs approximately 17 USD in the UK, 24 USD in Germany, and 55 USD in China.
• The cost of feeding an infant can represent a disproportionate share of average monthly salaries in growth markets. In China, super-premium formula can cost nearly 40% of an average monthly salary, and in Indonesia, it can reach nearly three-quarters of monthly income.
• BMS manufacturers frequently breach the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. According to the Access to Nutrition Index 2016, Nestlé was the most compliant with a score of 36%, while Abbott and Mead Johnson Nutrition scored under 10%.
• The nutritional quality of infant milks is largely dependent on industry self-regulation, with public authorities focusing more on contamination than on routine nutritional composition testing.
• Manufacturers are increasing the 'medicalisation' of infant formula by selling over-the-counter products that claim to treat general conditions like colic or constipation, despite limited evidence of efficacy.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2017). Milking it. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Final-report-CM.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Milking it. 2017. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Final-report-CM.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Milking it |date=October 2017 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Final-report-CM.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2017milking, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Milking it}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Milking-it-Final-report-CM.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }