Baby Formula Locked Up To Prevent Shoplifting, Netizens Lament Exorbitant Prices
A Tweet showing rows of baby formula locked up on shelves at FairPrice was widely shared recently.
According to Twitter user Shawn Lim (@mediumshawn), the formula milk tins were put behind screens and locked to prevent them from being stolen.
“Breaks my heart that there people [sic] out there struggling to feed their babies,” he added in his tweet which has reached more than 500 retweets at the time of writing.
Other Twitter users also chimed in and added that the formula had been placed behind the cashiers at other supermarket chains.
Formula milk commonly shoplifted item: FairPrice
In response to media queries, FairPrice clarified that they were conducting a trial of securing baby formula behind screens with locks at one of their outlets in Bukit Batok as the item is a common target for shoplifters.
The statement further mentioned that the trial started two weeks ago and they will assess whether to continue or extend the initiative.
Some netizens pointed out the exorbitant prices of infant formula in local supermarkets.
Taskforce formed back in 2017 to curb rising prices
This is not the first time the price of baby formula has made headlines.
In 2017, a taskforce was convened by the Government to implement measures to curb the rising prices of baby formula. According to a Straits Times report, prior to that, the average price for a 900g tin of formula milk increased by 120% from 2007 to 2017, to $56.06.
The report added that this increase was far higher than any other dairy products or household items. Subsequently, following the interventions of the taskforce, the prices of formula milk decreased by 4.8%, with more cheaper options made available in stores.
As for now, a quick check on Lazada showed that the cheapest 900g tin of formula milk for infants is about $19.
Due to the recent inflation, it was not known whether there are any fluctuations in the overall prices of formula milk.
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