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AIBU?

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Original poster

To believe that formula companies have PR agents working the BF/FF threads on here?

999 replies

CocoDeMoll · 02/08/2018 20:53

They are a multi million pound set of companies that are invested in keeping Britain’s low breastfeeding rates down and keeping their profit margins up.

Any positives about breastfeeding seem to be shot down in flames on here.

So much pro formula and anti breastfeeding rhetoric.

They can easily afford to and have the best at the jobs be it lawyers, pr teams or spin doctors on their sides and they’re not exactly renounced for their ethics are they (nestle?!?!).

Or am I just getting a bit tied up in conspiracy therorys? Grin

OP posts:
MrSpock · 04/08/2018 12:26

Complete agree!
And I totally understand what you are saying about me being happy with breastfeeding and so carrying on. But one reason why I was happy with it is because I knew it is still tailor made for DS, even after the magic 6 month

They made DS1 cry by pulling his eye open (that had been injured during his birth) and hiding his NICU cannula under a blanket so he “looks nicer on photos.” I sent them away angrily and didn’t buy them!

That’s a valid point and everyone needs more open, honest information about breastfeeding. For me my main concern was (and will be this time) getting the first milk into him as he was poorly at birth and I wanted him to have the antibodies. I’m glad I knew breast milk had those!

Grandmaswagsbag · 04/08/2018 12:27

@PersianCatLady nope. It’s uk based made by a uk charity (not a breastfeeding one, an infant nutrition one) about the relaunch of nutramigen. It’s claims are completely untested and they bypassed our FSA! I had no idea this sort of shit went on until I watched it. It clearly shows our FSA work on the side of industry not the consumer. Wat h it all the way through.

ethelfleda · 04/08/2018 12:28

Anybody that is so weak-willed that an advert can persuade them to buy something they don't need or want should not be left unsupervised with money

I for one am not ashamed to admit that I have. We all buy things we don't need because of advertising!

I agree totally with doing away with capitalism!

And what bertrand said about proper, actual free choice. That can only be made if we are properly informed.

MrSpock · 04/08/2018 12:28

she isn't likely to meet any of the (,usually short lived) challenges with sangfroid, but to think ",oh Christ it's all going wrong just like everyone said it would

This is why I think better bf support groups and making them accessible is essential.

PersianCatLady · 04/08/2018 12:29

Your video is very USA based so I am not sure if it is very useful here in the UK
I stand corrected, it does refer to the UK later on in the video.

I am not going to list the many reasons why I am not going to watch it all but each to their own.

MrSpock · 04/08/2018 12:30

I tend to find adverts only work if I already want the product. So if I’m looking for a new internet provider and see an ad for one and it looks alright, I might be interested.

If I’m happy with my current provider or don’t need any internet, I’ll ignore it completely.

Ennirem · 04/08/2018 12:30

Right there with you DrSpock!

Grandmaswagsbag · 04/08/2018 12:31

No, I trust that the product is regulated accordingly to the same advertising standards and product safety laws that regulate the food I eat myself.

That wouldn’t actually be very well regulated then, but don’t you think 1st formula should be held up to more scrutiny, especially given the fact it’s vastly priced for a cheap to produce product and in the case of nutramigen and specialised our NHS pays millions for it to prescribe? Would we allow a drugs companies claims to go completely untested by an impartial body?

PersianCatLady · 04/08/2018 12:31

If I’m happy with my current provider or don’t need any internet, I’ll ignore it completely
Exactly!!!

MrSpock · 04/08/2018 12:32

I can’t understand why the NHS doesn’t have them. Breastfeeding classes you could attend during pregnancy seems like something they should provide tbh!

ethelfleda · 04/08/2018 12:33

Those are examples of a company promoting the benefits of their product. That doesn't undermine breastfeeding

You could well be right. Maybe I was scrutinizing the letter too closely and I was looking for something dodgy so to speak.

This is such an emotive topic on which many of us have our defined stances. You can tell by my posts that I am pro bf. But I so desperately want to look at all the facts rationally and keep an open mind. Which is why I joined the debate. I think questioning your beliefs and having people challenge them is a healthy thing to do and I am trying not to be too defensive over my points of view.

Pengggwn · 04/08/2018 12:34

ethelfleda

By all means - there is no harm at all in being critical.

Ennirem · 04/08/2018 12:35

The latest most alarming thing I've heard about advertising is re Facebook adverts. One of the things you agree to when ypubtick the box for the Facebook app is giving them access to audio. Unless you specifically turn it off, your phone mic is always on. So if you are idly chatting about how you really need to buy a new sofa... Haven't googled it yet or anything... Expect to see adverts for sofas popping up in your newsfeed as a bot is listening to you for stock phrases and tagging you for certain content based on your (theoretically) private conversations. Now I'm sure someone like Pengggwn will still say "so what, I don't have to buy them"... But this is the kind of strategy I'm talking about, seriously manipulative stuff that most people really don't know about and therefore don't factor into their critical appraisal of the advertising that reaches them.

Pengggwn · 04/08/2018 12:36

Grandmaswagsbag

I believe there should be the same level of scrutiny that there should be of any food product. Is it safe? Does it do what it says it does? Then I am happy.

In all honesty, I do not know exactly how formula is scrutinised, but then I don't know exactly how cheese is scrutinised.

Grandmaswagsbag · 04/08/2018 12:37

I am not going to list the many reasons why I am not going to watch it all but each to their own.

This implies you think I’m spreading some sort of opionion. It’s a factual lecture, you may choose to ignore it, believe what you wish and keep your own opinions. But they are just that.

thereareflowersinmygarden · 04/08/2018 12:37

Hate to break it to some of you, but you won't always be aware of advertising influence.

MrSpock · 04/08/2018 12:40

So if you are idly chatting about how you really need to buy a new sofa... Haven't googled it yet or anything... Expect to see adverts for sofas popping up in your newsfeed as a bot is listening to you for stock phrases and tagging you for certain content based on your (theoretically) private conversations.

That’s how they’re doing it!

DP and I were talking about a family event coming up and Facebook started advertising Sarees to me. I don’t have DP listed as my partner and keep my profile super private so was incredibly confused how it “knew” he was Indian and I needed a saree.

That’s pretty awful.

Grandmaswagsbag · 04/08/2018 12:40

@Pengggwn so you don’t want to know? Don’t you think lots of parents would though? How can you make truly impartial descions without all the facts? This is the key, facts not marketing.

ethelfleda · 04/08/2018 12:41

Hate to break it to some of you, but you won't always be aware of advertising influence

This! This may get sneered at but recently - I have been avoiding the outside world (for want of a better word) no social media, no tv- haven't even been out much due to it being too hot to leave the house! Anyway - when I did eventually leave the house (to fly to visit family) i walked through the airport duty free and for the first time I wasn't even remotely tempted to look. Or shop. I wanted to sit down and read my book. Now maybe that's coincidence. Or maybe I am a bit less intelligent that many of you and are more susceptible to advertising. But my point is - leading the life of a semi hermit has stopped me buying unnecessary crap.

Dormouselike · 04/08/2018 12:44

Seems to me like some breastfeeding mums believe there are predominantly negative comments about breastfeeding and some formula feeding mums believe there are predominantly negative comments about formula feeding. It can't be both, but of course it's a really emotive issue so perception comes into it. BF mums - I'm sure you can understand that some people don't want to/can't breastfeed? FF mums - I'm sure you can understand that people can be passionate about breastfeeding without judging you? Maybe there are corporate employees posting on here, but regardless of that we could all just own our choices (or accept our circumstances if breastfeeding hasn't worked) and support others in theirs. Being a mum is quite hard anyway, and we're all just trying to feed our babies aren't we?

ethelfleda · 04/08/2018 12:44

Quick question- you're all on mn now - what is being advertised to you currently on the webpage?

Ennirem · 04/08/2018 12:48

Mobile phones! Was just saying to do yesterday I need a new one Blush

ethelfleda · 04/08/2018 12:50

Peugeot 208 for me - I was talking to my niece the other day about how I've always liked Peugeots and have driven many of them Hmm

MrSpock · 04/08/2018 12:52

Quick question- you're all on mn now - what is being advertised to you currently on the webpage?

Pillows.

I was whinging about DP disturbing my sleep earlier...

Pengggwn · 04/08/2018 12:56

Grandmaswagsbag

My DD is a toddler and I feed her bread - I don't test it or read peer reviews articles about it. I feed her cheese - same there. If anything, I love her a hundred times more than the day she was born, and I care more about her well-being than anything. But I am not going to go off the reservation. If food is being sold legally in the UK, I trust that it is safe. If that makes me a bad parent, I am a bad parent.