Angry - was this unfair treatment?

[123girlsandboys321]

I was in a Boots store today and told that j couldn't pay for a bottle of newborn formula with my Boots points...but I could buy deodorant etc. When I questioned this the assistant said it was a law on formula for 0-6 months to encourage breastfeeding. I'm really angry!! I needed to formula feed my baby as he was losing too much weight, surely this shouldn't be a blanket rule?! Just trying to make people feel bad!!

[ALemonyPea]

Sorry you've been upset by this

Boots are correct that they cannot use points for it, same as you can't use Tesco clubcard vouchers for 0-6 formula.

[fuctifino]

It's not a new rule.
Can't see the problem really.

[LIZS]

Formula is not part of any incentive scheme. Points, loyalty card, discounts. There are other exceptions too.

[teacher54321]

It's illegal to put any sort of offer on newborn formula-so you'll see 'follow on milk' for 2 for £12 offers etc but never first formula.

[hownottofuckup]

I've heard of it before, but I still think it's pretty shitty.
To protect babies how exactly? As far as I'm aware formula isn't harmful??

[Alb1]

It's not unfair treatment by boots, they were just following the law, it's the same in all shops that use points. I don't agree with it personally either tho

[FreedomMummy]

You can't earn Tesco points on formula either so it's not just Boots.
I've formula fed two babies so I feel your pain but it's the way it is.
It would appear that they think if they give people loyalty points for formula everyone is going to stop breastfeeding.

[frikadela01]

As far as I'm aware they aren't allowed to even put 0-6 formula on offer or knock money off. It's not allowed to be advertised either which is why the companies push completely unnecessary follow on milk instead.

[hownottofuckup]

teacher isn't that to stop people flitting between brands which is apparently a bad idea. Bit different to using points to buy your usual brand.

[123girlsandboys321]

Fair enough then I guess. Maybe just unnecessary for the assistant to mention breastfeeding, she could have just said they can't apply any offers or points to infant formula...

[LIZS]

But it is true.

[SummerHouse]

Absolutely no offers on formula. Your issue is with the government not Boots. They were just acting within the law.

[teacher54321]

as far as I understand you can't legally incentivise formula in any way, which is why you can't use bonus points to pay for it, and they are never put on BOGOF offers or similar. It's why follow on milk exists-they can advertise it and market it more aggressively.

[TheSuspiciousMsWhicher]

Boots aren't making a judgement about your feeding choices, they are simply following the law.

[soapboxqueen]

I think it's mostly to do with the fact the the formula companies will spend millions pushing their product of allowed to , while breastfeeding might get 75p and a used balloon.

We are all influenced by advertising. These rules just even the playing field slightly.

[SummerHouse]

Just to add I think its stupid.

They will be offering government clubcard points for breastfeeding next.

[Daffolill]

Not just boots it's a stupid law. As if anyone thinks oh I can get points on formula so I'll give up breastfeeding!

[Biscuitsneeded]

I guess the assistant was just trying to explain why she couldn't let you have the formula on points. It is illegal to advertise or promote formula; I guess if you allow people to have it for free then in effect you are increasing the likelihood that they will buy it again. It smacks a bit of the nanny state, I agree, but I guess if you wanted to use your points to buy lottery tickets or cigarettes you'd understand why there are laws in place to stop you doing so. Not that I'm saying formula can be equated with cigarettes, obviously!

[TimeOfGlass]

Boots aren't trying to make anyone feel bad. They're complying with the law. Any kind of advertising or incentives or money-off promotions on 0-6 months formula is illegal, and letting you use Boots points for newborn formula falls under this.

As I understand it, it's partly intended to avoid the situation where a mother might choose formula rather than breastfeeding because the formula is free or reduced price because of special offers, and then have trouble affording the formula when it goes back to the usual price, while being unable to return to breastfeeding because the breastmilk has dried up.

[cookiefiend]

It is the law, but I know exactly what you mean. I had to mix feed DD1 for a few months and every time I bought formula I felt even more mad at myself because the stuff was so expensive. I felt I was being judged by everyone and tried to hide it under other things.

I know why bf is pushed so hard. I an still bf DD1 (aged two and a half) and DD2 has been ebf so I di believe in the benefits, but the push to bf really makes you feel pretty shut when it goes wrong.

[DilysPrice]

The formula companies have been known to use all sorts of marketing schemes to promote formula use instead of breastfeeding and worldwide this has killed untold thousands of babies, some would put the figures in the millions over the decades. They have form for bending any rules on marketing as far as they can possibly go. Clearly not going to kill very many children in the UK if you let them have their way but the general principle is not to give them a millimetre, not to allow any leeway at all, and to apply those rules world wide. Spend your Boots points on nappies or cotton wool balls.

[OooLookShoes]

s I understand it, it's partly intended to avoid the situation where a mother might choose formula rather than breastfeeding because the formula is free or reduced price because of special offers, and then have trouble affording the formula when it goes back to the usual price, while being unable to return to breastfeeding because the breastmilk has dried up

This.

Allegedly some companies were buggers for this. The legislation was to stop companies preying on economically disadvantaged groups.

That and to level the playing field a little. The big pharma companies have billions to spend on promoting their products. They don't need any help from a Tesco BOGOF or a Boots loyalty card scheme.

[soapboxqueen]

I forget which country it was, maybe Thailand or the Philippines, where one of the big formula companies had been pushing formula to the local women. Telling them that it's what all the clever, sucessful Western women use. Giving out free samples etc

Of course many can't afford to keep using it. After the free samples have run out, they can no longer breastfeed because their milk has dried up. They then water down the formula they do buy to such as extend, is useless. Babies die or are malnourished.

In some countries water isn't clean enough and people struggle to sterilise bottles.

Some companies don't care about the impact they have.

In the West, we are lucky enough to be able to choose. There are benefits to bf and ff in different ways. However, our freedom of choice is not curtailed by lack of advertisements but it could help to protect women and babies in poorer countries.

[Hotbot]

Ah I remember this , I was ridiculously in bits as I really struggled to breastfeed my first and felt even more useless . Don't ask me why I felt this way I was upset and hormonal