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The Consumer Association of Singapore (Case) made the case for breast-feeding by comparing the costs of breastfeeding - breast pumps, cooler bags and ice packs - with the cost of six months' worth of formula milk powder, reported The Straits Times.

Case executive director Seah Seng Choon told The Straits Times that consumer feedback on rising dairy prices prompted Case to initiate the survey, with nine brands of infant milk formula being covered at 11 major supermarket chains in Singapore.

These findings were confirmed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's index of dairy product prices for April, with prices being 25 per cent higher than in the same month last year.