Supermarkets, including Albert Heijn, have made money by shipping their stocks of baby milk powder to China, the Telegraaf reports on Thursday.

Dealers told the paper they are buying pallets full of Nutrilon baby milk powder from the supermarkets, which is delivered to them via the stores’ back door. They then sell it on to China at a much higher price.

Nutrilon manufacturer Nutricia told the paper it is aware of the practice. ‘This is something the supermarkets must deal with,’ sales director Niels Bontje said. ‘It is not Nutricia’s responsibility.’

Enormous

On Wednesday, the Telegraaf reported ‘enormous’ milk powder shipments to China while orders by Dutch supermarkets are not being met.

Nutricia confirmed the shipments to China but told the paper production for the Dutch market had been increased by ‘tens of percentage points’.