Health Secretary Wes Streeting has drawn on his own childhood experiences to announce new government action aimed at cutting the cost of baby formula and lifting the guilt from family budgets.
Personal Experience Drives Policy Change
In a piece published on December 4, 2025, Streeting recounted being raised in an east London council flat by a mother who worked tirelessly to provide for him. He highlighted the persistent struggle many families face when balancing a child's health and happiness with tight finances, a challenge exacerbated by expensive options presented as superior.
The minister specifically targeted the baby formula market, where parents who do not or cannot breastfeed often feel pressured towards pricier brands. This pressure, he argued, exploits the natural desire to do the best for one's child, creating a false narrative that cheaper means inferior.
Government Steps to Ensure Affordability and Clarity
The government is now introducing measures to ensure baby formula is displayed in a way that helps families easily identify the lower-priced options. Streeting emphasised that every infant formula sold in the UK meets strict nutritional standards set by the NHS, confirming all products are safe and regulated.
Working with public health experts, health services, and the industry, the initiative will provide unambiguous information to help parents make confident feeding decisions. The expected result is savings of up to £500 a year for families.
Additional plans include making it easier to use cash-equivalent coupons, loyalty points, and vouchers both online and at the till, directly putting money back into household budgets.
Part of a Broader Fight Against Child Poverty
Streeting acknowledged that formula costs are just one piece of a larger puzzle. He noted the stark reality that nearly three in four children growing up in poverty today live in a working household.
The government's wider Child Poverty Strategy includes several key actions already undertaken:
- Scrapping the two-child limit, lifting an estimated 450,000 children out of poverty.
- Expanding free school meals and breakfast clubs.
- Raising the National Minimum Wage.
- Investing in family hubs and early years support.
The minister praised the Metro newspaper's Formula For Change campaign, run in partnership with the charity Feed, for shining a light on the issue of formula accessibility over the past two years.
"No family should feel guilt for choosing what is affordable," Streeting stated, framing the new measures as essential for giving children a healthy start and empowering parents without breaking the bank.
