Why Is Formula So Expensive?

Julia Ord and her husband spend over $400 every month on formula to feed their infant daughter. “We try to find coupons when we can, or use Optimum points,” says Julia, a mom of two in St. Catharines, Ontario, who added that the cost of formula will only increase as her daughter grows and her intake increases.

The Ords feed their youngest Similac Alimentum, a brand that was prescribed due to their daughter’s acid reflux. “But the pharmacy refused to cover it, because we have benefits—but then our benefits refused to cover it,” says Julia, who added that OHIP previously covered the exact same formula for her son.

In 2019, OHIP stopped providing free prescriptions to children with private health insurance. Julia says she applied for coverage through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program for her son in 2021 and was approved. However, when she applied for the same formula and the same condition for her daughter, Julia was denied. OHIP’s 2019 policy and confusing ODB program have left families like the Ords in a bind when their private insurance also declines to provide coverage.

Why formula prices keep climbing

The cost of infant formula has been steeply increasing, leaving many families scrambling to find ways to cover the cost of feeding their babies. The CBC previously reported that the cost of formula has nearly doubled since 2017.

“We’ve been dealing with both affordability and supply issues for several years now,” says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Professor and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. “The pandemic really exposed the cracks, but even before that, Canada was already vulnerable, because we rely heavily on imports for infant formula.”

Dr. Charlebois says that the increase in formula costs and the supply chain issues can be traced back to Canada’s “overreliance on foreign suppliers and lack of domestic capacity.” If Canada wants to improve the issue, the government will need to have some “policy courage,” he says.

“We need to diversify supply, encourage more domestic production, and make the import process more flexible when shortages appear. Clear communication to parents would also help a lot; right now, people are often left guessing,” Charlebois explained.

A daily struggle to access the right formula

The Ords can only purchase the formula they need at Shoppers Drug Mart, which makes cost and access a challenge. Julia says that sometimes her local Shoppers runs out, and she has to drive across town to get the brand she needs. Previously, the brand was available at other stores, but Julia has found that they no longer carry it. The chase to find the right formula becomes one more task on a busy parent’s to-do list.

Families are already anxious about the rising cost of living and affording basic necessities. The Ords have scaled back their budget, cutting back on extras like eating out and monthly subscriptions. They continue to look for ways to reduce their spending so they can divert funds toward the formula their daughter needs to grow and thrive. They’ll sometimes have one of their senior parents purchase formula during Shoppers’ senior discount days or stock up during sales.

Today’s Parent also spoke with Manager of Operations Gerry Skafydas at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. He says that the demand for formula has remained consistently high.

“Each year, we serve approximately 3,000 babies and allocate $58,000 to secure the necessary formula,” says Skafydas. “Although we don't offer specialized formulas, we engaged dietitians to help us identify the best general formula options to ensure proper infant development.”

Skafydas anticipates that more families will turn to the food bank for support, given the current economic landscape. “We are fully prepared and eager to assist anyone in need. The real challenge lies not in the availability of food, but in its distribution,” he says.

The bottom line

While families like the Ords continue to navigate the maze of coverage gaps, rising prices, and unpredictable access, one thing remains certain: feeding a baby shouldn’t depend on a parent’s ability to fight their way through bureaucracy or absorb skyrocketing costs. Until clearer policies, better supply chains, and consistent support programs are in place, many Canadian parents will remain stuck in an impossible position—doing whatever it takes to secure the formula their babies need.