To think formula feeding parents are bent over a barrel?

[inpixiehollow]

Just been discussing this with a friend and interested to know peoples thoughts.
Am I being unreasonable to think that the NHS/govt should manufacture a nutritionally complete formula for babies, sold at cost price to families? Not disputing the importance of real access to proper breastfeeding support but we have to acknowledge that some women cannot/don't want to breastfeed and instead are victim to formula companies turning over huge profits. If people want fancy formulas/special additives then the option should be there but with rising cost of living I don't think its acceptable that something so necessary for many babies is getting to the point of unaffordable.
I am a massive advocate for breastfeeding so please don't take this as an attack or downplaying the massive lack of help for bf in the UK, I just wish both options were made more accessible for whatever feeding choices people make.

@Mylittlesandwich sadly the evidence is that they do. It's not so much of a problem when mothers have clean water, the means to buy it full price and the literacy skills to read the instructions. It becomes a huge problem when any of those isn't the case.

Look at the reasons behind the advertising code to see why it's there. The UK does not enforce the entire code.

Advertising is one thing, that I can get onbaord with. But if people already choose to FF they shouldn't be punished for that decision.

I agree with advertising and think that actually follow on milks shouldn't be advertised either because this builds faith in the brand which will of course impact decisions on infant formula. But excluding it from offers altogether? Even the collection of loyalty points? I can't understand how being able to get points with a loyalty card makes a difference.

How would you differentiate between targeting those who've chosen versus are choosing?

Besides history has shown that if you give the companies and inch they'll take a mile.

The WHO codes does include follow on milks, the UK hasn't adopted that part.

Loyalty points are a form of marketing. It influences behaviour just like other forms. Even better it gives the companies tone of information about us.

thank you, I had to dash out so didn't have time to go through it all. I was a National Dried baby, I seem to remember with my younger sibling my mother would buy it the health centre (called the clinic back then) and would also get orange juice and codliver oil, I think they were free. As you say different times.

I remember with my first baby, at 6 months, I was utterly convinced that I needed to mov my baby from exclusive breastfeeding to follow-on milk. That was advertising at work. And I'm not an idiot.

Luckily my HV put me right and I never touched follow-on but there will be plenty of women who get missed. Sad.

I completely agree OP. My ex wife tried breastfeeding all 3 of our kids but her body simply would not produce enough milk. We had all sorts of support at the hospital and from health visitors but noone could truly help so moved onto formula.