Baby food discount for lowest earners

LOW-income families are to be offered vouchers for discount baby food under a new initiative being tested out in three parts of France.

The project is being supported by food manufacturer Danone, the Chèque-Déjeuner lunch voucher scheme and the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales in Nancy, Nantes and the 13th arrondissement of Paris.

Couples who earn less than €1,600 a month and receive RSA income support (revenu de solidarité active) will receive a book of vouchers offering reductions of 30% to 50% from September. If successful, the scheme will be then extended nationwide.

Danone said any profit from the increased baby food sales would be reinvested and "not a centime will go to shareholders".

Chèque-Déjeuner, which is responsible for printing and sending the vouchers, said it would not make any money on the scheme.

Every year an estimated 80,000 babies are born to families who live below the poverty line.

Vojtech Vlk - Fotolia.com