Baby food prices rise by more than 50%

Children are not spared from the impact of rising commodity prices. The prices of baby food have increased continuously in the country’s market.

Sources said the prices of many imported and domestically produced baby foods have increased by more than 50 percent in the last one year.

Most baby food prices have increased by 20-23 per cent. Among these, the increase in the price of liquid and powdered milk has hit the children’s parents most.

Milk has high demand for use as baby food. As a result, the lower and middle class people are under the most pressure due to the rise in food prices. Not only ready-made food, but the prices of pulses, eggs, and semolina used in preparing children’s food at home have also increased at the same trend.

Analysts say if prices continue to rise like this, many low and middle-class parents may cut back on nutritious meals for their children. This will increase the rate of malnutrition among children.

According to traders, the prices of all types of baby food have increased gradually. They are cashing in on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war to hike prices of essentials that were already becoming costlier. The price of formula milk has increased four to five times in the last two years.

It was found in markets in Dhaka that most of the baby foods are imported from outside the country.

Some of the brand companies like Prima, Nestle, and Unilever are selling various types of ready-made baby food including Cerelac, Lactogen, Mix milk, Horlicks, and Biomil. These ready-to-eat foods are generally available for babies aged 1 year to 3 years.

The prices of those prepared foods have increased up to 52 per cent in the last one year. Besides, the prices of powdered milk of various brands have increased up to 23 per cent.

Apart from this, many people prepare and feed their children various kinds of food including khichuri, eggs, rice semolina, and liquid milk. The prices of these food ingredients have increased by 40-54 per cent in the last one year.

It has been seen that the price of a tin jar of Lactogen weighing 400gm has increased from Tk 450 to Tk 670. A tin jar of Prima milk weighing 400gm was Tk 450, currently, it is selling at Tk 620. At the same time, the price of Cerelac also increased.

Even a year ago, the price of a 400gm Cerelac was Tk 250 to Tk 300, currently; it is selling at Tk 425-430. The price of one kg of Horlicks was 645 taka two months ago, now it is being sold at Tk 680.  

PediaSure branded formula milk weighing 400gm is now being sold in the retail market for Tk 2050 to Tk 2,100, which was Tk 1,800 a few months ago.

A private job holder named Mariam, who came to buy baby food in the capital’s Segunbagicha market, said the cost of a packet of Prima-2 milk has increased by Tk 150 compared to last year.

Her family is spending an additional Tk 2,000 to 3,000 per month to serve the purpose which is not possible for a low and middle-class family to afford, she added.

Sifat Rahman, a vendor, said like other products, the price of baby food has also increased. If companies or importers do increase the price, we have nothing to do. After the price hike, the sales of these foods have decreased. Many parents are making alternative arrangements, he added.

The price of a 500gm packet of NIDO milk powder was Tk 475-500, now it is Tk 570. The price of full cream powdered milk of different brands including Diploma, Dano, Mark, and Fresh was Tk 680-780 a year ago, now it has increased to Tk 700-840.

Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) market data shows that the price of milk powder has increased by 22-23 per cent in the last one year.

Not only has the price of powdered milk increased, but the price of packaged liquid milk has also increased by Tk 10 per litre. Liquid milk sold at an average price of Tk 70 per liter, is now being sold at Tk 80 per litre.

Prices of homemade food items including rice, pulses, and eggs have also increased. Large-grain pulses are being sold at Tk 110 per kg in the capital’s markets compared to Tk 70-80 per kg a year ago.

Small-grain pulse is Tk 150 per kg; a year ago the price was Tk 120. Quality Atap rice price is Tk 130 per kg; it was Tk 85-95. The price of each egg was Tk 13; it was Tk 7-8.

Consumer Association President Golam Rahman told The Business Post that a large part of the children of low and middle-class families in the country are already suffering from malnutrition. If the
price of baby food continues to rise, the rate of malnutrition will increase which will weaken our future generation.

According to government statistics, the number of severely malnourished children coming to the country’s hospitals for treatment increased by more than 72 per cent in 2021 compared to the previous year.

The data from Public Health Nutrition Institute under the Directorate of Health shows, 11,313 children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), were admitted to hospitals in 2021. This number was 6,570 in 2020.