Campaign to Simplify the UK Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations

[tabouleh]

Some of you might be interested in Baby Milk Action's campaign to "simplify the Infant Formula and Follow on Formula regulations".

There is a petition at the new Government website "Your Freedom".

The campaign is positioned from the angle of "cutting business and third sector regulations"

The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations were revised in 2006, but the last government ignored the advice of Trading Standards officers, LACORS, its own Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and other health experts by failing to bring the measures into line with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent, relevant Resolutions of the World Health Assembly.

Doing so, would save the taxpayer many millions of pounds by reducing expenditure on treating illness associated with poor and misleading information from baby milk companies and by making the operations of Trading Standards more efficient.

The last government commissioned a review on the operation of the law which commented on shortcomings in the law and concluded there need to be 'steps taken to address these'.

I guess it is a case of making the issue fit the website criteria.

IMO follow on formula adverts should be banned.

IMO, mothers should be able to make an informed choice and formula should be able to be advertised.

I had no idea which to choose in the hospital, midwives couldn't say anything so I choose the only brand I knew which turned out to be one of the most expensive. Then I didn't want to change DS to another one so I just stuck with it.

DetectivePotato - formula adverts are illegal in this country already!

It is follow on formula which is advertised! It just goes to show how sucessful the advertising of that product (which was invented so the brands could be advertised) is!

I agree that mothers should be able to make an informed choice but I believe that follow on formula ads and ads to HCPs prevent informed choice and lead to a FF culture.

I speak as someone who feel let down by the FF culture as I did not get enough support to help me BF.

I have no problem if people want to FF from the start.

In fact I think that the literature and ads are misleading.

Re your experience in hospital - there is no major difference between formulas - no formula is better than another. Some formulas may suit some babies better than others.

Midwives and HCPs should be providing information on safe formula preparation and basic facts about formulas etc.

The UNICEF babyfriendly initiative produces a leaflet about formuala - which can be found here.

Organisations such as Baby Milk Action provide far more independent information on formulas that the formula companies themselves.

"Companies should comply with composition and labelling requirements and other Code requirements to reduce risks - independently of government measures. Parents have a right to accurate, independent information."

I am sure that most people in this country would be horrified to know that in other countries Nestle prints the following on its boxes:

"Strengthening the immune defenses and reducing the incidence of diarrhea in the crucial first year of life"

DetectivePotato - Advertising doesn't give you information to make an informed choice! Imunofortis, comfort proteins, praebiotik, etc, etc. What do they mean???

What would be really helpful is a NHS comparison chart that showed all the formula milks on the market and how they measured up to breast milk and each other (e.g. how many Kcals per 100mls, how much whey protein vs casein protein, how much Vit C/D/E/K/whatever) and what the benefits/drawbacks of each milk.

Then you could decide with the full facts not decide by which formula has the snappiest sounding ingredients.

It could be used on the post-natal wards if a mother had to supplement or at midwives/health visitor appointments if a mother was think of formula feeding. As it would be done by the NHS the HCP could use without fearing they were promoting one brand over another. Also if the NHS compiled the chart they could independently test the milks to ensure the correct data was recorded.

Filled in and bump

I agree there should not be any advertising of formula although I agree a comparison chart to help people make a choice between formula would be helpful.

Have commented and given 5 stars.

OP: Perhaps should put on IABU board to generate more traffic???

as in Am I being unreasonable to ask you to...

hmm - will think about putting in AIBU - but suspect it would kick off big stylee...

I am aware that it is illegal to advertise formula and that the OP is talking about follow on milk.

I still don't see why we should be 'censored' from formula advertising just because the government want to promote breast feeding. It is ridiculous to the point that we are not allowed to be given information on how to safely make up bottles etc and people who are at their absolute wits end want to move on from breastfeeding but their HVs are not allowed to tell them that it is ok to do this.

Formula advertising isn't "censored" because the government want to promote breastfeeding though - it's restricted because the lengths the advertisers will go to are ridiculous - you only have to look at the practices in third world countries or, indeed, America, to see what kinds of bollocks they come out with. I think that unless a company can prove they can market something as important as this ethically, then they shouldn't be allowed to market it at all. It's not like people don't know formula exists, it isn't necessary.

I agree health professionals should be able to give out non-biased information on formula feeding, especially factual things like how to make up a bottle. It's supposed to be NHS policy that a midwife will show you how to make up a bottle in your own kitchen but not sure how common this is in practice.

OP: well post in pregnancy then?? will not kick off in same way and lots of traffic there too.

If advertising was more 'infomercial' than glowing babies/daddies doing night feeds and actually gave practical instructions on how to make up formula and how to correctly feed a baby formula (i.e. baby doesn't have to finish Xoz of milk, don't leave bottles at room temp for more than 2 hours, throw away bottles after 1 hour of starting, etc, etc) I would actually be okay with companies advertising (as long as they gave a commensurate amount to breastfeeding support).

That isn't the case though, is it? Formula advertising is obfuscation and smoke and mirrors with lip service to 'breast is best'.

DetectivePotato - in fact UK Governments have consistently failed to implement the WHO code which recommends that there is no formual advertising.

You are muddling issues here - I agree with you that people who are "at their absolute wits end want to move on from breastfeeding" must be given information.

Indeed it is the HCPs which are not following their own guidelines - they are meant to help parents with information on safe formula feeding etc.

I don't want to start another post else where. If anyone else does then they are obviously free too.

If enough posts are generated here then it will be in "most active" plus it will show in active convos.