Low income families and those on federal government support programs are being hit hardest by the national shortage of baby formula, a report Thursday detailed.

According to AP, desperate parents are heading into online groups to swap and sell formula in a wild, unregulated market to try and keep their babies fed.

The shortage is weighing particularly on lower-income families after the recall by formula maker Abbott, stemming from contamination concerns.

The report says this has had unintended consequences for those in lower income groups because the recall wiped out many brands covered by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

This is a federal program like food stamps that serves women, infants and children, though it now permits brand substitutes.