• prd@beehaw.org
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    9 months ago

    I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but very rarely are desperate parents the ones stealing baby formula to feed their baby.

    Baby formula theft is done in large quantities by a middleman for two purposes:

    1. to be resold at another smaller store, not any cheaper than the original retailer

    2. to be used to cut / dilute the product in drug manufacturing

    People stealing baby formula are not handing them out to grateful mothers in a Robin Hood style act of compassion.

    • AssholeDestroyer@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      That sounds more like DARE style bullshit to justify getting angry at people stealing formula. I’ve definitely heard of baby powder or baby laxative but that’s because they react similar to coke by dissolving in water like blow or acting like a numbing agent. Baby formula doesn’t numb and it gets milky in water.

      It makes no sense from a economic stand point either. People cut drugs to make more money. Most of the shit they use costs next to nothing, isn’t watched and definitely isn’t locked up.

      • stillwater@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        It’s not all baby formula, only certain ones. I believe Similac has one that works. Baby formula is locked up in some stores for this very reason.

        HOWEVER, I would definitely not say “most baby formula shoplifters are using it for drug production”, especially not these days.

    • Altima NEO@lemmy.zip
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      9 months ago

      Yeah it’s always assholes looking to resell it. Much like all the theft at hardware stores, with people reselling stolen power tools.