McKenzie Richards
Health Policy Fellow
2112 Rio Grande St. Austin, TX 78705
McKenzie Richards is a Health Policy Fellow at the Cicero Institute, where she researches market-oriented solutions to improve American healthcare. A published author and researcher, she holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University and a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University.
Topics
Appearances (1)
2026-08-18
Breaking the Formula Monopoly: Restoring Competition to Infant NutritionIn the Health Policy Podcast episode titled "Breaking the Formula Monopoly: Restoring Competition to Infant Nutrition," McKenzie Richards, a health policy fellow at the Cicero Institute, discusses the challenges of the infant formula market, including government contracts that limit competition. Richards highlights the impact of the 2022 infant formula shortage and proposes solutions such as alternative cost containment programs and the Formula Freedom for Families Act to enhance access and safety for families relying on infant formula. The episode emphasizes the need for reform in the infant nutrition sector to ensure better options for consumers.
Notable quotes
“I couldn't find an infant formula that didn't have corn syrup and didn't have some harmful seed oils or added sugars.”
“When you have less competition and more consolidation, many, many other problems begin to pop up in those markets.”
“40% of all infants in the United States are covered by WIC, and so that's 40% of the people with infants in a geographic region who are not able to get access to those formulas if something happens to the manufacturing plant.”
“The way we have— okay, so rebates operate as a retrospective discount provided by the manufacturer... the rebate system itself does not work.”
“Infants are the most precious lives amongst us, and we need to improve the food in which we're giving them.”
“What I helped design is some ideas on those alternative cost containment programs of what states can adopt to help keep those costs down in ways that inject competition into the market.”
