On Thursday afternoon, Hannah Goland was within hours of running out of food for her newborn son.

Six-month-old Archer relies on a single brand of prescription infant formula, the only powder that won’t trigger his serious milk allergy, and accompanying hives and anaphylactic reaction.

But for months, getting even a single tin of any type of special formula for allergic or intolerant babies has been incredibly difficult, as parents desperately criss-cross cities, or drive for hours, to find pharmacies with remaining stock.

Hannah Goland is fast running out of options to feed her baby boy Archer. Credit:Justin McManus

Chinese demand for baby formula is now affecting the prescription market, as suppliers report being overrun by those purchasing the powder to resell overseas.