Guardian article re Farley's change to Heinz Nurture and the subsequent price hike

[hunkermunker]

Not sure if this has already been posted - MNers quoted in this article.

[policywonk]

Yes, the last one quoted is kiskidee apparently. Also we have drawn the G's attention to the mad bfing stats in the last para.

[puffylovett]

Is that figure on bfing correct ?

Didn't post on the last one, but thought it pertinent to mention that if the price hike is partly due to 'more hygienic scoop' conditions, why don't they scrap the scoop and lower the price

[KashaSarrasin]

"The NHS encourages mothers to breastfeed if possible. Its last big survey, in 2005, suggested 76% of mothers did so for at least six months, up from 69% in 2000. Half of all mothers continued breastfeeding after six months."

Where on earth did they get those figures from???!!!

[policywonk]

No, there's no way the figures are correct. NQC found the correct stats and posted them on the other thread - I think it was 26% still feeding at 6 months (and tbh I was a bit surprised at it being that high).

[Amphibimum]

actually, it sounds kinda good, those figures. maybe people will think its all the reage/dead normal and try it if they think everyone else is [flippant]

[hunkermunker]

"The breastfeeding initiation rate for the UK was 76 per cent in 2005. The rates for the four countries of the UK were 78 per cent in England, 70 per cent in Scotland, 67 per cent in Wales and 63 per cent in Northern Ireland."

Someone doesn't understand the word "initiation" or how to get past the first paragraph of a summary, I don't think www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/breastfeed2005

Sorry, had skimmed but not seen another thread - what's it called, please and I'll go and read

[thumbwitch]

perhaps he meant 6 WEEKS, not months?

[kiskidee]

Add one ingredient of very dubious distinction, nearly double the price and viola! A miracle product. Tossers.

[hunkermunker]

No mention in the article of just how few babies this ingredient's been tested on.

Wonder if SMA have a similar price hike on the horizon? "Declined to comment"...

I have seen how much formula is in France (18-22 euro per tub) - £14.40-17.61, according to my magic Google calculator - maybe manufacturers are hoping the market will stand for similar prices here?

[puffylovett]

really ?

do they have higher bfing rates over there then hunker ?

maybe the government is behind the price hike. Lets get mums to go green and bfeed

[hunkermunker]

No, think France has relatively low bf rates, iirc.

[puffylovett]

that really is profiting out of neccessity then isn't it

[kiskidee]

carpetbagging, i'd say, puffy.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

I'm not at all surprised, tbh.

[hunkermunker]

I'd actually be interested to know how many women give their babies something other than formula in France - because you can be sure that if they put the prices up too much, babies will end up being fed Carnation milk again.

My guess is they're seeing what the market will take and pulling Farley's out of the bottom of the price range is the beginning of that process.

[hunkermunker]

A French formula - I would also be fascinated to know what the French policy is on marketing formula, because I reckon a lot of this is stuff that wouldn't be allowed in the UK.