Baby Food Market

How big is the Baby Food Market in 2026?

Baby food sales are projected to reach USD 153.8 billion by 2036, rising from an estimated USD 85.9 billion in 2026 at a 6.0% CAGR over 2026 to 2036. The market was valued at USD 81.0 billion in 2025. FMI expects value growth to outpace the wider packaged food category, because spending per child is rising while birth cohorts shrink. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics recorded about 3.61 million US births in 2025, a decline of 1.0% from 2024 [21].

Formula science is advancing mainly through regulation. The US Food and Drug Administration proposed the first update to infant formula nutrient rules in nearly 30 years on 29 October 2026 [18]. Ingredient contamination is the main limitation, because one shared input can affect many brands at once. The European Food Safety Authority reported multi-country recalls of infant nutrition products that began in December 2025 after cereulide toxin was detected [2]. Nestlé traced the toxin to an arachidonic acid oil from a single supplier [3], which shows how concentrated sourcing spreads risk across the category.

Parental trust is the actual demand determinant. Brand choice made in the first weeks tends to hold through later feeding stages, so safety records shape revenue for years after a recall.

Key Market Trends & Insights

• Safety limits for formula ingredients are tightening. EFSA set an acute reference dose for cereulide in infants of 0.014 micrograms per kilogram of body weight in February 2026 [1]. Oil and fat suppliers therefore face heavier lot testing before formula makers accept deliveries, which raises input costs across the category.
• US regulators are publishing contaminant data on retail formula. The FDA tested more than 300 retail samples for metals and pesticides as well as PFAS and phthalates [19]. Most samples showed low or undetectable levels, and the agency is working toward action levels for some contaminants [18]. Published test records are becoming a basis for retailer listing decisions.
• Large owners are restructuring their baby food portfolios. Abbott plans to separate its Nutrition business by the end of 2027 [10]. The unit generates about USD 8.5 billion in annual sales. Perrigo agreed to sell its store-brand formula unit, and Hain Celestial agreed to sell an International business that includes Ella's Kitchen [12][14]. Retail buyers should expect new owners to revisit pricing and supply terms.

Regional Highlights

• In Europe, formula sales are still recovering from the early 2026 recalls. Danone reported that the infant milk formula category continued to recover progressively in Europe in the third quarter of 2026 [6]. Shelf recovery depends on requalified ingredient supply, which favours brands with several approved oil and fat suppliers.
• In Asia Pacific, premium formula and national nutrition policy shape demand together. Reckitt cited premiumisation in South East Asia as a driver of Mead Johnson Nutrition growth in the third quarter of 2026 [11]. Indonesia's nutrition programme targets stunting prevalence of 14.2% by 2029 [34], which favours fortified foods aligned with public health goals.

Baby Food Market Size and Forecast

Table 1: Baby Food Market Size and Forecast

Market size and forecast	Value
Market size in 2025	USD 81.0 billion
Estimated market size in 2026	USD 85.9 billion
Projected market size by 2036	USD 153.8 billion
CAGR from 2026 to 2036	6.0%

Source: Future Market Insights analysis of the baby food market, 2026.

Analyst Perspective

“Brand choice in formula rests on clinical trust and paediatric advice, and families tend to stay with that brand through each feeding stage. Supplier differentiation comes from clinical evidence for added ingredients and from batch testing that retailers and regulators can verify. The main qualification risk sits upstream, because one contaminated oil or protein lot can force recalls in several countries at once.”

- Nandini Roy Choudhury, Principal Analyst at Future Market Insights

How is the Baby Food Market segmented?

• By product type: Milk Formula, Prepared Purees, Dried Baby Cereals, and Teething Biscuits & Finger Snacks.
• By nature: Conventional HMO-Fortified and Certified Organic & Grass-Fed.
• By distribution channel: Supermarkets & Hypermarkets, Pharmacies & Drugstores, and Online Retail & Subscription.
• By infant age stage: Stage 1 & 2 Starter and Follow-On 0 to 12 Months, Stage 3 Toddler & Growing-Up 12 to 36 Months, and Special Medical & Hypoallergenic Hydrolyzed.
• By packaging format: Composite Metal Cans & Tubs, Reclosable Spouted Stand-Up Pouches, Vacuum-Sealed Glass Jars, and Aseptic RTD Hospital Nursery Bottles.
• By functional ingredient: HMO, DHA/ARA & Probiotic Enriched, A2 Beta-Casein & Goat-Milk Based, and Plant-Based & Soy-Based Pediatric. Recipes built on A2 protein overlap with the A2 infant formula market that FMI tracks separately.
• By region: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, and Middle East and Africa.

Why does Milk Formula lead by Product Type in the Baby Food Market in 2026?

Milk Formula holds 51.9% of the Baby Food Market by product type in 2026.

Formula leads because it is the sole or main food for many infants in their first months, which makes it a high-frequency repeat purchase. EFSA uses a high-end intake of 260 mL per kilogram of body weight a day when it assesses infant formula exposure [1]. Regulation also protects incumbents. US rules require 30 nutrients in every infant formula [18], which keeps compliance and entry costs high for new brands.

Incumbents are using format innovation to defend pricing power. Abbott's worldwide pediatric nutrition sales rose 8.8% in the July to September 2026 quarter [9]. In the first half of the year it launched a ready-to-feed Similac formula made with whole milk [10]. New formats raise revenue per feed without adding volume, an important lever when birth numbers are falling.

Prepared Purees, Dried Baby Cereals and Teething Biscuits & Finger Snacks together hold the remaining 48.1%. Puree demand is under pressure in some markets. Hain Celestial's baby and kids sales fell 12.0% on an organic basis in fiscal 2026, led by purees in both North America and its international markets [13]. Finger foods and cereal still grew in North America, a shift that links this group to the baby snacks market.

Table 2: Product Type, 2026 Share

Leading Share	2026 market share
Milk Formula	51.9%
All Other Segments Combined Share	48.1%

Source: Future Market Insights analysis of the baby food market, 2026.

Why do Supermarkets & Hypermarkets lead by Distribution Channel in the Baby Food Market in 2026?

Supermarkets & Hypermarkets account for 40.9% by distribution channel in the 2026 Baby Food Market.

Grocery chains lead because they combine formula, purees and snacks in one weekly shop and control shelf space for own-label lines. Own-label formula relies on this channel for reach. Perrigo's store-brand infant formula business, which supplies retailer own-label lines, generated USD 380.0 million in net sales in the four quarters to June 2026 [12].

Retail rules are changing how chains compete on formula. The UK government said in December 2025 that new retailer guidance would allow loyalty points, vouchers and gift cards to be used on infant formula [24]. It expects these steps to save families up to GBP 500.0 before a child's first birthday. Chains that display lower-priced formula clearly on shelf should gain share among price-sensitive households.

Pharmacies & Drugstores and Online Retail & Subscription together account for the remaining 59.1%. Drugstores hold weight in specialist and advice-led purchases. When HiPP faced a tampering case in 2026, the drugstore chain dm removed HiPP jars in Austria as a precaution alongside grocery chains [16].

Table 3: Distribution Channel, 2026 Share

Leading Share	2026 market share
Supermarkets & Hypermarkets	40.9%
All Other Segments Combined Share	59.1%

Source: Future Market Insights analysis of the baby food market, 2026.

Why does Stage 1 & 2 Starter and Follow-On 0 to 12 Months lead by Infant Age Stage in the Baby Food Market in 2026?

Stage 1 & 2 Starter and Follow-On 0 to 12 Months products represent 41.7% of the Baby Food Market by infant age stage in 2026.

The first year leads because feeding volume per kilogram of body weight is highest in that window. EFSA applies 260 mL per kilogram a day for infant formula and 140 mL per kilogram for follow-on formula in its exposure estimates [1]. The stage also covers the start of weaning, so it combines milk feeds with first purees.

Rules for this stage are strict and under revision. The FDA's October 2026 proposal would update requirements for iodine and manganese as well as vitamins A and D [18]. It also seeks comment on possible requirements for DHA, ARA and L-carnitine, which HHS links to neurodevelopmental health. UK governments are considering how to inform parents that a switch from first infant formula to follow-on formula at six months is unnecessary [23]. That guidance could move spending within the stage away from follow-on products.

Stage 3 Toddler & Growing-Up 12 to 36 Months and Special Medical & Hypoallergenic Hydrolyzed products together represent the remaining 58.3%. Medical nutrition is a growing part of the revenue mix for large suppliers. Danone's third-quarter 2026 sales review noted solid results in both infant milk formula and medical nutrition across China, North Asia and Oceania [6]. Toddler stages face lower feeding volumes per kilogram, which limits their value share.

Table 4: Infant Age Stage, 2026 Share

Leading Share	2026 market share
Stage 1 & 2 Starter and Follow-On 0 to 12 Months	41.7%
All Other Segments Combined Share	58.3%

Source: Future Market Insights analysis of the baby food market, 2026.

What are the key drivers restraints and opportunities?

Baby food revenue depends on spending per child more than on the number of births. Falling cohorts in mature markets shift the burden of growth onto product mix, safety records and new ingredients.

Driver

Regulators are widening the list of approved functional ingredients, which opens room for premium recipes. Brazil's health regulator Anvisa has proposed adding seven oligosaccharides, bovine lactoferrin and four probiotic strains to its approved list for infant formula [29]. Each approval allows fortified recipes at higher price points. Makers of fermentation-derived sugars stand to gain, as covered in the human milk oligosaccharides market.

Restraint

Births are falling in several mature markets, which shrinks the pool of new formula users each year. England and Wales recorded 585,396 live births in 2025, the lowest number since 1977 [22]. Births in France fell 2.1% to 645,000 in the same year [25]. Revenue growth therefore depends on raising value per child, a strategy that price transparency rules now constrain.

Opportunity

Store-brand and value formula can gain share as price comparison intensifies. The UK Competition and Markets Authority found that the average retail price of some infant formula rose by more than 25.0% in recent years [23]. It estimated that families choosing cheaper products could save GBP 300.0 to GBP 540.0 in a baby's first year. Own-label suppliers can build volume on that finding within the limits of formula promotion rules.

How do safety rules and formula standards affect baby food purchasing?

Safety thresholds now determine which batches reach the shelf. France applied a cereulide limit of 0.014 micrograms per kilogram of body weight to all French formula makers on 30 January 2026 [26]. The ministry warned that the lower threshold could trigger further withdrawals and recalls. Compliance therefore depends on lot-level testing capacity, which raises fixed quality costs for every manufacturer.

US standards are also being rewritten. The FDA's proposed nutrient rule is open for public comment until 26 February 2027 [18]. Two further proposals will cover the remaining nutrients, possible new nutrients and carbohydrate sources. Formula makers will need to reformulate products and update labels once a single final rule is issued. Early recipe planning reduces the risk of supply gaps during the transition.

What limits reliable baby food supply and product quality?

Shared ingredient suppliers are the weak point in formula supply. French authorities traced the cereulide to an arachidonic acid oil made by one supplier in China [27]. Every formula maker that used that oil had to assess the safety of each batch on the market. Dairy bases add a second exposure, because formula relies on lactose, milk powders and the inputs covered in the demineralized whey powder market.

Microbial and criminal risks also constrain supply. The FDA began sampling powdered milk for Clostridium botulinum in February 2026 as part of its inquiry into a 2025 infant botulism outbreak linked to formula [20]. HiPP recalled jars sold at SPAR Austria in 2026 after police found rat poison in a few manipulated jars in Austria, Czechia and Slovakia [16]. The company said the jars left its plant in perfect condition, and the recall ended on 5 May 2026. Tamper-evident packaging and batch traceability therefore hold commercial value beyond regulatory compliance.

Where can baby food suppliers win additional business?

Additional revenue sits in finger foods and in reformulated formula. Hero Group grew its Better Snacking category by 7.0% in 2025 [15], with a portfolio that includes Beech-Nut, Freche Freunde and Organix. Snack formats face fewer formula-specific marketing restrictions, which gives brands more room to promote them. Reformulation is the second route. The FDA's proposed nutrient update seeks comment on DHA, ARA and L-carnitine [18], so suppliers with clinical evidence for these ingredients can price new recipes at a premium. Each route requires separate safety testing and retailer qualification.

Baby Food Market by Country (2026 to 2036)

Table 5: Baby Food Market Country Growth Forecast

Country	CAGR, 2026 to 2036
Indonesia	7.4%
Brazil	7.1%
Mexico	6.8%
United States	5.3%
United Kingdom	5.0%
France	4.8%

Source: Future Market Insights analysis of the baby food market, 2026.

Indonesia

Indonesian baby food demand is shaped by a national drive to cut child stunting. The Ministry of Health's 2024 nutrition survey recorded stunting prevalence of 19.8%, down from 21.5% in 2023 [34]. The government targets 14.2% by 2029. Its programme focuses on pregnant women, micronutrient supplements and exclusive breastfeeding. Nutrition policy therefore sets the product mix more directly than retail competition does.

That policy mix has opposite effects across product categories. USDA attachés in Jakarta reported that government breastfeeding campaigns are driving a decline in baby food consumption [35]. The Free Nutritious Meals programme launched in January 2025 aims to feed 83 million children and pregnant and lactating mothers [35]. Fortified cereals and toddler foods aligned with national nutrition goals have room to expand, while infant formula faces closer scrutiny. Value per child more than volume explains why Indonesia leads this country set, with a 7.4% CAGR across 2026 to 2036.

Local dairy supply remains thin. USDA forecast Indonesian fresh milk output at 722,883 tonnes in 2025 [35], so processors depend on imported milk powders, whey and lactose. Exchange rates and import duties therefore shape shelf prices for imported recipes. Brands that blend locally can price closer to household budgets outside the largest cities, which widens their addressable base. Local blending also reduces exposure to currency swings on finished goods.

Brazil

Brazil's regulator is widening the range of ingredients that formula brands may use. Anvisa published new rules for infant formula and foods for young children in June 2025 under RDC 976 and IN 367 [29]. Its first periodic update proposes adding seven oligosaccharides such as 2'-FL and LNT, together with lactoferrin and four probiotic strains. A proposed 24-month adjustment period gives brands time to reformulate.

The birth cohort is contracting fast. IBGE data show that Brazilian births fell 5.8% to about 2.38 million in 2024 [28]. Each smaller cohort reduces the number of first-time formula buyers. Brazil and Mexico also drafted a 2025 resolution at the WHO Executive Board on digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes [32]. Tighter online marketing rules would limit how brands reach new parents through influencers and social media.

Higher spending per child more than offsets the smaller cohort, and Brazil is expected to grow at a 7.1% CAGR over 2026 to 2036. Retail food revenue rose 9.0% in 2024, according to the USDA office in São Paulo [30]. Reckitt credited Latin American premiumisation and innovation for Mead Johnson Nutrition growth in its latest quarter [11]. HMO-fortified and probiotic recipes cleared under the new Anvisa lists can sustain that premium shift. Household budgets remain the constraint, because premium formula costs more per feed than standard recipes. Pharmacy and supermarket chains will determine how fast new recipes reach shelves outside large cities.

Mexico

Mexican families rely heavily on formula in the first months of life. The Ministry of Health reports that only 34.2% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, against a 2030 global target of 70.0% [32]. Continued breastfeeding at two years stands at 43.0%. Rates are lower among mothers in paid work, which ties formula demand to female employment. Formula is therefore a routine purchase for a large share of households with young infants.

Policy is moving to curb formula promotion. In 2024 Mexico wrote into law the state's duty to set policies that apply the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes [32]. In February 2025 it co-drafted a WHO resolution on digital marketing of these products with Brazil. Marketing budgets will need to shift from online promotion toward healthcare channels and in-store information.

INEGI registered about 1.68 million births in Mexico in 2025 [31]. That sizeable cohort and modern retail growth support Mexico's 6.8% CAGR between 2026 and 2036. The USDA office in Mexico City reports that retail growth is driven by demand for convenience, premium and health-oriented products [33]. Pouch purees and fortified cereals match that demand profile. Tighter marketing rules could slow premium formula upgrades if brands cannot explain new ingredients through permitted channels. Suppliers with established paediatric and clinic relationships hold an advantage in that setting, while brands that rely mainly on social media face the sharpest adjustment.

United States

Federal safety action is reshaping the US formula category more than birth numbers are. The FDA launched Operation Stork Speed in March 2025 to expand options for safe and reliable infant formula [20]. In April 2026 it published contaminant results for more than 300 formula samples sold at retail [19]. The agency is now working toward action levels for certain contaminants [18], which will turn voluntary testing into a compliance baseline. Public disclosure also raises the reputational cost of a failed test, which strengthens retailer demand for supplier test data.

The birth base is shrinking slowly. US births fell 1.0% to about 3.61 million in 2025 [21]. The general fertility rate dropped to 53.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. Product mix is therefore the main lever for value growth, and the federal nutrient proposal opens a regulatory route to reformulated premium recipes [18].

Reformulation will add cost before it adds revenue. The October 2026 proposal covers iodine, manganese and vitamins A and D, and two further proposals will follow [18]. Recipe changes and label updates must be planned around a single final rule, which favours suppliers with deep regulatory teams and flexible plant networks. Store-brand contracts are most exposed, because they depend on a single maker supplying several retailers. Steady upgrades to premium recipes still support a 5.3% CAGR for US baby food between 2026 and 2036.

United Kingdom

Price competition defines UK formula buying. The Competition and Markets Authority found that some infant formula prices rose by more than 25.0% and that parents often treat price as a sign of quality [23]. The four UK governments accepted its recommendations on shelf display and price comparison in principle. They will seek voluntary action from retailers first. Retail execution of these recommendations will therefore set the pace at which price competition intensifies.

Births are at a multi-decade low. Live births in England and Wales fell 1.6% to 585,396 in 2025 [22]. The total fertility rate fell to 1.39 children per woman. A smaller cohort limits volume growth in first-stage formula, so brands compete for a shrinking pool of first-time buyers each year. Higher value per child still keeps the United Kingdom on a 5.0% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

Price transparency is the next pressure point. The government expects its measures on retail display, loyalty points and vouchers to save parents up to GBP 500.0 before a child's first birthday [24]. That could shift spending toward cheaper formula and compress premiums for brands that rely on price as a quality signal. Own-label formula suppliers stand to gain most if parents act on the new guidance. Branded suppliers will need clinical evidence to justify their price premium once comparison becomes easier at the shelf.

France

France sat at the centre of the 2026 formula recalls. The agriculture ministry reported that Nestlé and then Lactalis withdrew formula batches after cereulide was traced to an ingredient oil [27]. On 30 January 2026 France applied a stricter cereulide threshold to every formula maker on its territory [26]. Inspectors also checked shops and pharmacies to confirm that recalled batches had left shelves.

Demographics add a second pressure. INSEE recorded 645,000 births in France in 2025 [25]. That was 2.1% fewer than in 2024 and 24.0% fewer than in 2010. The fertility rate fell to 1.56 children per woman, and deaths exceeded births for the first time since the end of the Second World War. Each smaller cohort reduces the number of families entering the formula category for the first time.

A shrinking cohort leaves France with the lowest rate among the six profiled countries, 4.8% a year over 2026 to 2036. Trust and testing now weigh as heavily as price in brand choice. Brands that publish test results and keep shelves stocked are positioned to regain parents lost during the recalls. Organic and specialist formulas can still lift value per child as births decline. Pharmacy shelves matter in this recovery, since inspectors checked pharmacies as well as shops during the recall [26]. Suppliers with strong pharmacy distribution therefore hold an advantage in rebuilding trust.

Who are the notable companies in the Baby Food Market?

Nestlé, Danone, Abbott and Reckitt illustrate the strategic options open to global formula suppliers. All four sell infant formula in many countries, but their priorities now diverge. Nestlé resumed production at all its infant formula factories using alternative suppliers and extra testing after its 2026 recall [4]. It said its formula recovery was further ahead in Asia, Oceania and Africa than in Europe [5]. Danone announced a targeted withdrawal of a very limited number of formula batches on 23 January 2026 [7]. It is now adding research capacity for early life nutrition through its new Shanghai centre [8].

Abbott plans to separate its Nutrition business into an independent listed company by the end of 2027 [10]. The new company would hold Similac, which Abbott describes as the top infant formula brand in the US. Reckitt treats Mead Johnson Nutrition as a non-core business and expects low-single-digit growth for it in 2026 [11].

Weaning food specialists compete on organic quality and brand trust. HiPP sells organic baby milk and baby food produced under EU organic rules [17]. Hero Group reported net sales of CHF 1.2 billion in 2025 and runs a Baby & Toddler Milk platform [15]. Hain Celestial will keep Earth's Best in North America after selling its International business [14]. Perrigo is exiting store-brand formula through its sale to MeridianMade [12]. Ownership changes at several suppliers make continuity of supply a central procurement question for multi-year contracts.

Key Developments in the Baby Food Market

• On 14 September 2026 Hain Celestial agreed to sell its International business to AURELIUS for about USD 323.0 million [14]. The sale includes Ella's Kitchen and remains subject to closing conditions.
• On 29 October 2026 Perrigo agreed to sell its infant formula business to MeridianMade for up to USD 175.0 million [12]. Closing is expected in the first half of 2027.
• On 2 November 2026 Danone opened a 5,200 square metre Research & Innovation Center in Shanghai [8]. The site serves early life nutrition, adult medical nutrition and functional beverages.

Key Players in the Baby Food Market

• Nestlé S.A.
• Danone S.A.
• Abbott Laboratories
• Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
• The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
• Hero Group
• HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG
• Perrigo Company plc

Baby Food Market Report Scope

Table 6: Baby Food Market Report Scope

Coverage field	Report scope
Market definition	Packaged nutrition for infants and young children aged 0 to 36 months sold through retail, pharmacy and hospital channels. Covers starter, follow-on, growing-up and special medical formulas, prepared purees, dried baby cereals, and teething biscuits and finger snacks. Bulk ingredients, feeding bottles and general family foods are excluded.
Product Type	Milk Formula; Prepared Purees; Dried Baby Cereals; Teething Biscuits & Finger Snacks
Nature	Conventional HMO-Fortified; Certified Organic & Grass-Fed
Distribution Channel	Supermarkets & Hypermarkets; Pharmacies & Drugstores; Online Retail & Subscription
Infant Age Stage	Stage 1 & 2 Starter and Follow-On 0 to 12 Months; Stage 3 Toddler & Growing-Up 12 to 36 Months; Special Medical & Hypoallergenic Hydrolyzed
Packaging Format	Composite Metal Cans & Tubs; Reclosable Spouted Stand-Up Pouches; Vacuum-Sealed Glass Jars; Aseptic RTD Hospital Nursery Bottles
Functional Ingredient	HMO, DHA/ARA & Probiotic Enriched; A2 Beta-Casein & Goat-Milk Based; Plant-Based & Soy-Based Pediatric
Regions and profiled markets	North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Profiled: Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, United States, United Kingdom, France
Companies covered	Nestlé S.A.; Danone S.A.; Abbott Laboratories; Reckitt Benckiser Group plc; The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.; Hero Group; HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG; Perrigo Company plc
Quantitative Units	USD billion

Source: Future Market Insights analysis of the baby food market, 2026.

Baby Food Market Research Methodology

The baby food assessment draws on food safety agency findings, national birth statistics, regulatory filings and company disclosures [1][21][25][9]. FMI measures annual sales value of packaged nutrition for children aged 0 to 36 months across retail, pharmacy and hospital channels. Segment values are classified by product type, distribution channel and infant age stage, with further splits by nature, packaging format and functional ingredient. Country forecasts reflect local births, feeding practice, regulation and retail structure over the same 2026 to 2036 period. Birth counts, safety actions and company sales are reviewed as separate measures.

Baby Food Market by Segments

Baby Food Market segmented by Product Type:

• Milk Formula
• Prepared Purees
• Dried Baby Cereals
• Teething Biscuits & Finger Snacks

Baby Food Market segmented by Nature:

• Conventional HMO-Fortified
• Certified Organic & Grass-Fed

Baby Food Market segmented by Distribution Channel:

• Supermarkets & Hypermarkets
• Pharmacies & Drugstores
• Online Retail & Subscription

Baby Food Market segmented by Infant Age Stage:

• Stage 1 & 2 Starter and Follow-On 0 to 12 Months
• Stage 3 Toddler & Growing-Up 12 to 36 Months
• Special Medical & Hypoallergenic Hydrolyzed

Baby Food Market segmented by Packaging Format:

• Composite Metal Cans & Tubs
• Reclosable Spouted Stand-Up Pouches
• Vacuum-Sealed Glass Jars
• Aseptic RTD Hospital Nursery Bottles

Baby Food Market segmented by Functional Ingredient:

• HMO, DHA/ARA & Probiotic Enriched
• A2 Beta-Casein & Goat-Milk Based
• Plant-Based & Soy-Based Pediatric

Baby Food Market by Region

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Chile
• Western Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Benelux
  • Nordics
• Eastern Europe
  • Poland
  • Czech Republic
  • Romania
  • Hungary
• East Asia
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
• South Asia and Pacific
  • India
  • ASEAN
  • Australia and New Zealand
• Middle East and Africa
  • GCC Countries
  • South Africa
  • Türkiye
  • Israel

Research Sources and Bibliography

• [1] European Food Safety Authority. (2026, February 2). EFSA provides rapid risk assessment on cereulide in infant formula.

• [2] European Food Safety Authority. (2026, January 28). Precautionary global recall of infant nutrition products following detection of Bacillus cereus toxin. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/precautionary-global-recall-infant-nutrition-products-following-detection-bacillus-cereus
• [3] Nestlé S.A. (2026, January 29). Sequence of events: Infant Formula Recall. https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/infant-formula-recall-timeline-events.pdf
• [4] Nestlé S.A. (2026, February). Annual Review 2025. https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/2026-02/annual-review-2025-en.pdf
• [5] Nestlé S.A. (2026, October 22). 2026 third-quarter and nine-month sales: investor presentation. https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/2026-10/nine-month-sales-investor-presentation-2026.pdf
• [6] Danone S.A. (2026, October 28). Q3 2026 Sales presentation. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/investors/en-result-center/2026/Q32026presentation.pdf
• [7] Danone S.A. (2026, January 23). In context of evolving authorities' guidance, Danone announces targeted recall of specific infant formula batches. https://www.danone.com/newsroom/press-releases/recall-specific-infant-formula-batches.html
• [8] Danone S.A. (2026, November 2). Danone opens Shanghai Research & Innovation Center to accelerate nutrition innovation. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/danone-renew/assets/cp/inauguration-r-i-center-shanghai/prdanone021126.pdf.coredownload.pdf
• [9] Abbott Laboratories. (2026, October 21). Abbott Reports Third-Quarter 2026 Results and Reaffirms Full-Year EPS Guidance. https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2026-10-21-Abbott-Reports-Third-Quarter-2026-Results-and-Reaffirms-Full-Year-EPS-Guidance
• [10] Abbott Laboratories. (2026, October 21). Abbott announces its intention to separate its global Nutrition business into an independent, publicly traded company. https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2026-10-21-Abbott-announces-its-intention-to-separate-its-global-Nutrition-business-into-an-independent,-publicly-traded-company
• [11] Reckitt Benckiser Group plc. (2026, October 27). Q3 Results 2026. https://www.reckitt.com/news/q3-results-2026/
• [12] Perrigo Company plc. (2026, October 29). Perrigo Announces Agreement to Divest Infant Formula Business to MeridianMade. https://investor.perrigo.com/2026-10-29-Perrigo-Announces-Agreement-to-Divest-Infant-Formula-Business-to-MeridianMade
• [13] The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (2026, September 14). Hain Celestial Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Results. https://ir.hain.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hain-celestial-reports-fiscal-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-0
• [14] The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (2026, September 14). Hain Celestial Enters Into Definitive Agreement to Sell International Business. https://ir.hain.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hain-celestial-enters-definitive-agreement-sell-international
• [15] Hero Group. (2026, March 20). Hero delivers profitable growth in 2025, sets 'Hero 2035' strategy to lead in Better Snacking. https://www.hero-group.ch/en/hero-group-delivers-profitable-growth-2025-and-sets-hero-2035-strategy-lead-better-snacking
• [16] HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG. (2026, May 5). HiPP Babynahrung: Rückruf in Österreich abgeschlossen. https://www.hipp.de/aktuelles-rueckruf-glaeschen
• [17] HiPP. (2026). HiPP worldwide: Germany, accessed 4 November 2026. https://www.hipp.com/hipp-worldwide/europe/germany/
• [18] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2026, October 29). Trump Administration Announces First Major Update to Infant Formula Standards in Nearly 30 Years. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/fda-updates-infant-formula-standards-first-time-30-years.html
• [19] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026, April 29). FDA Releases Results from Largest-Ever Testing of Infant Formula in the U.S. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-releases-results-largest-ever-testing-infant-formula-us
• [20] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026, July 13). Operation Stork Speed. https://www.fda.gov/food/infant-formula-homepage/operation-stork-speed
• [21] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2026, April 9). U.S. Births down 1% in 2025.
• [22] Office for National Statistics. (2026, September 8). Births in England and Wales: 2025 (final rates).
• [23] UK Government, Department of Health and Social Care. (2025, December 3). Government response to the CMA infant formula market study. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infant-formula-government-response-to-cma-market-study/government-response-to-the-cma-infant-formula-market-study
• [24] UK Government. (2025, December 3). Government brings in measures to help tackle child poverty. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-brings-in-measures-to-help-tackle-child-poverty
• [25] Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE). (2026, January 13). Demographic report 2025. Insee Première No. 2087.
• [26] Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Agro-alimentaire et de la Souveraineté alimentaire. (2026, January 30). Retraits et rappels de laits infantiles : la France abaisse le seuil pour la toxine céréulide. https://agriculture.gouv.fr/retraits-et-rappels-de-laits-infantiles-la-france-abaisse-le-seuil-pour-la-toxine-cereulide-afin-de
• [27] Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Agro-alimentaire et de la Souveraineté alimentaire. (2026, January 22). Point de situation autour des retraits-rappels volontaires des laits infantiles Nestlé et Lactalis en France. https://agriculture.gouv.fr/point-de-situation-autour-des-retraits-rappels-volontaires-des-laits-infantiles-nestle-et-lactalis
• [28] Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). (2025, December 10). Número de divórcios cai em 2024 após três anos de alta (Estatísticas do Registro Civil 2024). https://agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br/agencia-noticias/2012-agencia-de-noticias/noticias/45423-numero-de-divorcios-cai-em-2024-apos-tres-anos-de-alta
• [29] Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa). (2025, November 17). Diálogo setorial sobre ALIFINS: 1ª Atualização Periódica da IN nº 367/2025 e alteração da RDC nº 976/2025. http://www.gov.br/anvisa/pt-br/assuntos/noticias-anvisa/2025/anvisa-promove-dialogo-setorial-sobre-alimentos-para-fins-especiais/ApresentaoDilogosetorial17_11.pdf/@@display-file/file
• [30] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service. (2025, November 21). Brazil: Retail Foods Annual (BR2025-0035). https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/gain/2025/11/brazil-retail-foods-annual
• [31] Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). (2026). Natalidad y fecundidad: nacimientos registrados 2025, accessed 4 November 2026. https://www.inegi.org.mx/temas/natalidad/
• [32] Secretaría de Salud, Gobierno de México. (2025, February 11). México y Brasil promueven, en el consejo de la OMS, el consumo de leche materna. https://www.gob.mx/salud/prensa/023-mexico-y-brasil-promueven-en-el-consejo-de-la-oms-el-consumo-de-leche-materna
• [33] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service. (2025, November 19). Mexico: Retail Foods Annual (MX2025-0050). https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/gain/2025/11/mexico-retail-foods-annual
• [34] Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Health Development Policy Agency. (2025, May 27). SSGI 2024: National Stunting Prevalence Drops to 19.8%. https://www.badankebijakan.kemkes.go.id/en/ssgi-2024-prevalensi-stunting-nasional-turun-menjadi-198/
• [35] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service. (2025, November 21). Indonesia: Dairy and Products Annual (ID2025-0044). https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Dairy+and+Products+Annual_Jakarta_Indonesia_ID2025-0044.pdf