To find this absolutely shocking?

[NotSayingImBatman]

I've just been informed by my local food bank that they don't accept donations of formula milk because it 'may change feeding trends in the local area'.

They provided me a print out of the UNICEF statement regarding this, which also states that providing an incorrect type of milk could be harmful to a young baby, however I fail to see how 'nothing' could be less harmful than 'something' when it comes to infant nutrition and don't see why they couldn't ask for one particular brand and ensure the age range was correct when handing it out. I live in an area with high unemployment and low BFing rates. Now, I don't want this to turn into a BF/FF debate, I have experience of both and am still BFing 10mo DS2.

I'm also aware that those already 'in the system' so to speak, have access to healthy start vouchers that I believe can go towards formula milk. But what on earth is a mother who has, say, lost her job suddenly and has no income - to the point she requires a food bank in the first place - supposed to do if her baby needs feeding?

It would be impossible to reestablish a supply quickly if the baby were more than a few weeks old, particularly if that mother had never BF. I'm all for promoting that breast milk is great, but should we really be allowing this to blindly continue in food banks?

I know some will say the milk could be tampered with, but so could any food donated to a food bank. Has anyone else experienced this? Or is my food bank alone in this?

I do like the idea of donating money to the branch to cover formula purchases. I don't like the suggestion that health visitors could deal with it.

They're often hard to contact if it's a small team and they're out on visits and it's yet more phone credit spent tracking one down when there's no clinic that day.

In all fairness I just meant whichever outreach team was available in the local area that dealt with children and families not necessarily hv.

"Also the persons being referred will already of had contact with an agency who would prioritise formula whilst sorting the food bank application."

this^^ you get referred to a food bank - you don't just schlepp up to one, the agency/authority referring would, and do - take it on as their first duty to make sure any infant was fed, clothed and cared for.

I find it odd that people seem to think you just turn up at a food bank - that is not how it works. Care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and police identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals who are best placed to assess need and make sure that it is genuine. Do you honestly think they would not prioritise the needs of starving infants at first contact?

Don't you get vouchers for formula if you are in receipt of benefits?

ZOMBIE!

Maybe people should donate there healthy start vouchers if they are too proud to use them themselves.