Donating Formula

[kindmuis]

Hi there
Anybody know of any charities that would accept a box of formula?

opened or not?

either way i dunno was just curious. maybe try ur clinic if ur giving it away?

I don't think you are allowed to give it away.

don't think anyone would take it even if its unopened incase its contaminated

No legitimate charity will take donations of formula for very important reasons.

There is a guide for the use of formula in emergency situations with a checklist of alternatives. In disasters for example the use of formula can be very dangerous due to lack of water supply and sterilising facilities etc. If at all possible they try to find a way of either helping the mother to breastfeed or getting a wetnurse. Well meant donations of formula kills babies.

If formula is needed it has to be sourced locally with full instructions for use in the mother/carer's own language and they need to be sure that once a decision is made to use formula it is freely available for as long as the baby will need it. The formula used in these situations is generic (no brand name packaging to stop formula companies abusing situations)

In the UK free formula in the form of milk tokens is available for those on low incomes, the mother is free to choose which brand she uses.

Thank you all. I had a visit with my Health Visitor and she gladly took it off my hands to pass to a mommy in need. It was new and sealed

Did she really say she would pass it on? . It is illegal to give away free infant formula and against healthcare professionals codes of conduct.

Illegal for individuals to pass on formula or illegal for a health professional? I can see why it would be against their code of conduct, but illegal?! I've heard recently that low income families can get milk tokens? Where does that fit in? What do they do if they're breastfeeding? Can they get the money instead? Sorry, that's gone a bit off topic but if anyone knows, I'm curious...?!

Sorry got to go but will look up the regs later, milk tokens can be used to but formula or normal milk but they are a permanent thing. Its one off freebies or disocunts that are not allowed.

Ok, no worries.

Was thinking about this last night. You would hope that she would be giving this formula to someone who has already decided not to or been unable to breastfeed or who has stopped breastfeeding for some time. But it could be given to a man who is raising his baby - surely the regulations have to make an exception for men?! My brother is a stay-at-home-dad so that's what made me think of it really. I admit the likelihood is that it will be going to a woman though!!

She is very strong on breastfeeding so she would definately do the right thing.

That's good to hear - I'm sure she is just wanting to do a good deed!

Gosh the regs are complicated.

She may be OK as the regs specifically say healthcare professionals can't accept free donations from manufacturers or distributors (formula complanies or shops) bit of a grey area though.

The regs are in place because the decision to formula feed should be made with all the facts not becasue of any particular promotion and which brand to use according to the needs of the baby. Healthcare professionals are in a responsible position, they must not be seen to be endorsing any one particular brand and parents who use formula need to know the cost involved so for example if the brand given away is say Hipp organic the parent may feel they have to buy that brand but finds it expensive compared to cow and gate for example.

If the parent is truly in need on a low income then they should be getting milk tokens anyway which enable them to purchase any brand they like from clinic or a shop. Milk tokens are given to all families with a child under 1 on a low income. The exceptioon is asylum seekrs, they get no help and often are the ones who need it the most due to HIV issues (but therin lies another very complicated thread)

I know that many many primary care trusts ban healthcare profesionals from giving any samples/free formula away except to babies who are in-patients in hospital.

Thanks netter, it's interesting. I'm surprised about the milk tokens - doesn't seem to be an incentive to BF and seems to go against the grain a bit but of course I'm sure they go a long way to help out as formula is very expensive, as I'm just discovering having decided to start DD on a bottle a day.

They are going to be replacing milk tokens soon with a scheme called healthy start so breastfeeding mums get the same value as formula feedingones. breastfeeding mums can currently only exchange tokens for cows milk but soon they will be able to exchange them for a wide range of fruit and veg for example.

That's great - progress, flexibility, hurrah!