Regulate Infant Formula Resale and Retail Purchase Limit Enforcement


Regulate Infant Formula Resale and Retail Purchase Limit Enforcement
The Issue
As a concerned parent, I have experienced how difficult it has become to secure consistent access to infant formula. Like many families, my child relies on a specific formula (Kendamil Goat Infant), and ongoing shortages have made finding it increasingly challenging. While infant formula shortages have multiple causes, widespread reselling and inconsistent enforcement of purchase limits significantly worsen the problem. Third-party sellers frequently buy formula in bulk and relist it online at inflated prices, reducing retail availability and pushing families toward costly secondary markets. At the same time, safeguards meant to prevent hoarding are not always applied consistently. Many authorized retailers limit online orders of infant formula, yet in-store purchase limits—when posted—are not always effectively enforced at checkout. These gaps allow individuals to bypass intended protections and redirect formula into resale channels. Infant formula is not a discretionary product. For many babies, it is their primary or only source of nutrition. During shortages, parents are often told to “just switch formulas,” but this overlooks the reality that many families depend on consistency due to tolerance issues or prior feeding difficulties. Reliable access matters. Price gouging through resale places parents in an impossible position: pay far above retail price or risk going without a product their child depends on. These practices incentivize hoarding, disproportionately impact vulnerable families, and undermine trust in both retailers and online marketplaces. We urge lawmakers and regulators to take a comprehensive approach by regulating or restricting third-party resale of infant formula during shortages, enforcing anti-price-gouging protections, holding online marketplaces accountable, and ensuring authorized retailers consistently enforce purchase limits both online and in-store. These steps will not eliminate shortages, but they will help prevent unnecessary strain on supply and reduce opportunities for exploitation. Infant formula should not be treated as a commodity for profit during times of limited access. By signing this petition, you stand with parents calling for consistent, responsible access to essential infant nutrition.
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The Issue
As a concerned parent, I have experienced how difficult it has become to secure consistent access to infant formula. Like many families, my child relies on a specific formula (Kendamil Goat Infant), and ongoing shortages have made finding it increasingly challenging. While infant formula shortages have multiple causes, widespread reselling and inconsistent enforcement of purchase limits significantly worsen the problem. Third-party sellers frequently buy formula in bulk and relist it online at inflated prices, reducing retail availability and pushing families toward costly secondary markets. At the same time, safeguards meant to prevent hoarding are not always applied consistently. Many authorized retailers limit online orders of infant formula, yet in-store purchase limits—when posted—are not always effectively enforced at checkout. These gaps allow individuals to bypass intended protections and redirect formula into resale channels. Infant formula is not a discretionary product. For many babies, it is their primary or only source of nutrition. During shortages, parents are often told to “just switch formulas,” but this overlooks the reality that many families depend on consistency due to tolerance issues or prior feeding difficulties. Reliable access matters. Price gouging through resale places parents in an impossible position: pay far above retail price or risk going without a product their child depends on. These practices incentivize hoarding, disproportionately impact vulnerable families, and undermine trust in both retailers and online marketplaces. We urge lawmakers and regulators to take a comprehensive approach by regulating or restricting third-party resale of infant formula during shortages, enforcing anti-price-gouging protections, holding online marketplaces accountable, and ensuring authorized retailers consistently enforce purchase limits both online and in-store. These steps will not eliminate shortages, but they will help prevent unnecessary strain on supply and reduce opportunities for exploitation. Infant formula should not be treated as a commodity for profit during times of limited access. By signing this petition, you stand with parents calling for consistent, responsible access to essential infant nutrition.
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The Decision Makers
Petition created on January 20, 2026


