bump for lidushka

lidushka, it isn't a british thing it's a World Health Organisation 'thing' backed up by tons of peer reviewed studies which I am more than happy to send you the information regarding should you wish to view it. Exclusive BF up to 6 months and beyond reduces the risk of:

For baby:
Cot death
Obesity and overweight
High blood pressure
High cholesterol level
Eczema
Diabetes
Leukaemia
Asthma

For mum:

Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Type 2 diabetes
Postnatal depression

And that's just what I can remember off the top of my head. It's cheap and it's safe.

However, it is every parents choice what they should feed their child after considering the facts.

dxx

I just came across this thread as I am approaching weaning. It is interesting how heated up this debate was. I lived on the Continent until ten years ago and Iam familiar with different practices re child rearing. Why do we Brits assume that we know best? Personally I am more prone to trust German standards of food and cosmmetics both baby food and general) than British and I am not even German. Millions of babies thrive on practices condemned in this thread and altough it would be helpful to ammend the instructions on packaging to reflect the advice in this country, I do not think why such a fuss over it. Let's just get over it.

Would the FSA do anything though? I could forward them all the emails and a copy of the instructions from the website - not paying £2.95 for a packet of it!

AnarchyAunt, why don't you contact the FOod Standards Agency yourself? Get hold of a packet of this crap and circle the relevant information?
I don't think you will get a positive response from the company.

Another update on this saga - Waitrose have still not got back to me on my last email, two months later. The cereal is still on sale in the local branch with the same instructions to make up as a bottle feed from four months.

I am going to email them again to see what they are intending to do.

Well done you! It's very encouraging that they are going to change the packaging - I wonder will that happen to all foods that say suitable from 4 months? It gives out a very confusing message I think. Good for you for following up teh choking thing as well - v worrying!
In response to Angelika's letter:
"To start feeding complementary food (and not
exclusively breast feed) does not mean to wean a baby. "
Sorry Angelika but it does! Weaning starts as soon as the baby starts to take anything other than breastmilk.

Just sent this back to them

'Thank you for your reply, however I feel I must draw your attention to the detail of my complaint which was as follows -

"I have noticed that my local branch (xxxxx) has started to stock Holle Baby cereals/porridges. On the packet these state that they are suitable as a bottle feed for babies from four months, and give instructions to mix with fresh milk and sugar to give in a bottle.

I would like to draw your attention to the serious risk of choking if anything other than milk is fed from a bottle. This is well known and is the advice of the NHS, Food Standards Agency, Dept of Health and many other organisations, including every other baby food company that retails in the UK. To feed cereals in a bottle could result in the death of a baby "

I appreciate your decision to change the packaging to reflect the current age recommendations but the main issue that to feed cereals in a bottle can lead to choking has not been addressed. Will the instructions to feed in a bottle be removed? I feel that as a responsible retailer Waitrose has a duty to its customers to avoid tacit endorsement of practices that have documented risks associated, particularly where babies are concerned.'

Oh yes

They seem to have totally ignored my point in the original complaint, ie the choking risk.

That's a good response re changing the packaging to 6mo, but they haven't said if they are going to address the bit about adding it to a bottle.

Are you going to go back to them on that point?