B.C. mom concerned with price of baby formula as living costs rise

After the baby formula shortage earlier this year, prices are still high in some B.C. stores, and a West Vancouver mom tells CityNews she wants another baby, but is worried she won’t be able to feed them.

Colleen Murphy currently has a two-year-old and says having another baby feels like less of an option due to the price and availability of formula.
She says she’s visited multiple stores, several times in one day trying to find formula.

“If I do become a mom again and my body can’t produce enough milk, is there going to be formula available to feed my child, and if there is, am I going to be able to afford it?” she said.

“I remember looking at him and he was crying because he was hungry and it was just the most gut-wrenching feeling as a parent that your child is hungry and you’re in a position where you can’t feed them … it’s an awful feeling.”

The shortage started in February 2022 after a Michigan manufacturing facility closed for a few months, affecting Canadian supply.

Health Canada says — as of last month — “the Canadian supply of regular formula is stabilizing and can support the current demand. A steady supply of powdered regular formula continues to be imported from the United States and from Europe under the interim policy.”

After the baby formula shortage earlier this year, prices are still high in some B.C. stores. A West Vancouver mom says she wants another baby, but is worried she may not be able to feed one. (Sarah Chew, CityNews Image)

However, a University of British Columbia (UBC) pediatrics expert says we shouldn’t be depending on other countries for baby formula.

“We should be producing our own formula, we should be producing our own vaccines of all types, not just COVID vaccines but ordinary childhood vaccines… I think Canada has given up its lead role in producing these things,” Dr. Michael Klein explained.

Related article:

• ‘I’m scared for my baby’: Langley mother says of ongoing formula shortage

Meanwhile, B.C. Premier David Eby said Monday that adapting to various rising costs we’re seeing in the province is a work in progress.

“One of the things I’ve asked my minister of agriculture to look at is how we can ensure better food security in British Columbia. She has been working with a milk processing firm around the dramatic expansion of their ability to process milk products from western Canada to produce inputs for things like baby food,” he said.

Murphy says she’s glad her son is eating solid food now, but she still wants to give him a sibling.

“I don’t want to go back to the store and see an empty shelf when my child is hungry,” she said.