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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Who knows about the law and companies promoting FF in newborns in the UK please?

29 replies

BoysAreLikeDogs · 02/02/2013 19:27

ASDA promoting closer to nature starter kit as a giveaway

Doesn't sit 'right' with me

What do you think?

OP posts:
MolotovCocktail · 02/02/2013 21:53

Sorry, OP, I don't see your problem. Formula feeding is expensive; not all women choose to BF for whatever reason and I think it's good that Asda is doing this promo.

I get the feeling that you might have your judgey pants on ... whether you're judging Asda or the mums who FF, I'm not certain. Your title is judgmental, anyway. It implies that FF is 'wrong', as in it being against the law or can be legally regulated. Perhaps it can be, as Boots do not offer Advantage Card points on tins of formula (first infant milks only?) I'm guessing that this might not be what you mean, but can you see my point?

Original poster
BoysAreLikeDogs · 02/02/2013 22:05

no I'm not judging, I am asking for advice from those on here who are familiar with the law.

never mind.

OP posts:
RubyrooUK · 02/02/2013 22:05

I think this giveaway does not contravene any laws with promoting first milks formula because surely the same kit can be used by expressing parents for breastmilk? No milk is included.

I never formula fed myself but had a steriliser and bottles for when I expressed. (The fact that this failed to work is completely beside the point.)

Anyway, that would be my interpretation of this competition.

AnyaKnowIt · 02/02/2013 22:05

They are not promoting formula Confused

Original poster
BoysAreLikeDogs · 02/02/2013 22:08

thank you, I see.

I was thinking oh but no breast pump, hmmm etc; but ofc there is hand expressing

OP posts:
steben · 02/02/2013 22:08

I am loathe to get into a potential bunfight here but I really don't see what the issue is. Surely Asda promoting this deal is no bad thing - many women I know who breast feed also have bottles for emergencies or they are choosing to mix feed. I agree with previous poster that there is something very judgey about the tone set here and that doesn't sit right with me.

Shellington · 02/02/2013 22:09

I came across links to the guidelines on the WHO website OP - if you Google WHO breastfeeding guidelines there should be lots of downloads on there?

ilovepowerhoop · 02/02/2013 22:09

No formula is involved so no law is being broken

AnyaKnowIt · 02/02/2013 22:10

Whatever you do don't look at Mumsnet logo, that includes a bottle as well Hmm

gillian88 · 02/02/2013 22:14

What is so wrong with formula feeding??? Hmm

Shellington · 02/02/2013 22:16

As an aside, their steam steriliser is fab for nipple shields, the bottle carriers very useful for transporting chilled, expressed milk and their bottles "closer to nature" are intended to help with mixed-feeding due to teat shape. They could have chucked in a manual pump and breast pads too I guess - both very handy.

Good re-sale value too, I sold loads on ebay! EBF two DC but would always recommend TT as a good brand for baby products - whether for back up, mixed or full FF.

AnyaKnowIt · 02/02/2013 22:20

Formula compaines are not allowed to advertise first milks, this is what lead to the invention on 6months+ milks

Shops are not allowed to run promotions, money off vouchers, discounts or points on 1st milks as this is seen as promotion and is illegal.

The laws have nothing to do with the sight of bottles...

wannabedomesticgoddess · 02/02/2013 22:24

This thread has pissed me right off.

And I never get annoyed at the ff/bf debate.

They didnt include a breast pump. Who cares?

Heres a thought, if you want to ebf and feel you have no use for the equipment DONT ENTER!

Sorted.

MummyWeatherwax · 02/02/2013 22:24

I use these bottles, because they attach to my breast pump. So that'd be a lovely offer if I needed any.

And it is completely legal to promote follow-on milks, which I imagine need to be put in something.

To answer your question, It's only stage 1 milks that the rules apply to, hence no deals, points etc on them. All other paraphernalia is fine.

ReallyTired · 02/02/2013 22:30

Bottlefeeding isn't actually illegal.

There is nothing illegal about having a raffle and the prizes being bottles and a steriliser. They aren't giving away any formula. I imagine that the prize would not appeal to a La Leche League member earth mother who chooses to co sleep, uses cloth nappies and breastfeed.

Baby milk is a different in that feeding a baby formula upsets the milk supply of a breastfeeding baby. The use of formula reduces the mother's milk supply because the baby suckle's less. Women have used free samples without realising that the free sample sabortage the establishing of breastfeeding. In developing countries (and the UK before the welfare state) free formula has led to the horrendous situation of breastfeeding failing and the family being unable to afford the formula.

Shellington · 02/02/2013 22:32

I think entering and flogging it is perfectly legit for any competition Grin
They have a nappy wrapper there too - not a reuseable in sight.

Whydobabiescry · 02/02/2013 22:32

Sorry but YABU the prize includes loads of stuff from tommy tippee including a monitor, nappy disposal, steriliser and a few bottles so what! I ebf but bought bottles so did nearly everyone I know. They come in pretty handy whether you breast feed or not. I'm sorry op but getting all hot and bothered about a few bottles and getting all legalistic as to whether they are breaking the law is totally ott.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 02/02/2013 23:20

Thanks Reallytired.

I was asking about the reasons behind the ban on promoting first milk the other day, but no one really knew. That post explains it brilliantly! :)

Spiritedwolf · 03/02/2013 15:50

I think the responses you have recieved have been a bit harsh in tone, but yes, I don't think this contravenes the ban on promotion of artificial infant milks.

Baby Milk Action is probably your best source of info on this issue.

Just because I boycott Nestle and support BMA's campaigns and the WHO's guidelines, does not mean that I (or anyone else) is having a go at mothers who choose to bottle feed (or who are forced to do so by circumstances). The recommendations are there because the promotion of formula milks does damage breastfeeding rates, which has public health consequences. Women should have access to accurate non promotional information, which isn't something that advertising provides.

We are social creatures and as much as we don't think we are influenced by advertising as individuals, as a group we are so influenced that for-profit companies spend millions on advertising, because it does improve their sales. They wouldn't spend money on it if it didn't work.

Yes, some mums who bfeed/express use bottles, but not all do. It is not necessary 'stuff' to buy when you are expecting a baby. Obviously for mums who already intend to use bottles, winning some would be rather nice :)

I really wish people wouldn't take discussions about the ban on promotion (even if the OP didn't know what counts as promotion) as a personal attack on their decision to use formula. I am sad and angry that women who want to breast feed are not given adequate support to do so, but I am not annoyed at them or women who want to formula feed for other reasons. I don't think less of them at all. But I'm not going to pretend that multinational companies that act often very unethically in the promotion of their products, both here and abroad, to the detrement to maternal and infant health are cutesy companies beyond reproach because the products they push are used by mums and babies.

I have asthma, I can still be blooming annoyed about the behaviour of big pharma companies because I feel healthcare should be for the public good not private profit whilst relying on their wares. Those who need to/choose to use formula don't need to defend the unethical actions of those who sell it.

Spiritedwolf · 03/02/2013 15:55

*women who want to formula feed
should read: mothers, fathers and other caregivers who want or need to formula feed for any reason.

nannyl · 03/02/2013 20:25

I exclusively breastfed my DD until she self weaned

I never gave her a drop of formula

BUT i have almost all that (or an alternative brand of whats on offer) in my cupboards and used it all while I breastfed my baby.

I cant see the problem at all and wouldnt have been delighted to won it rather than having to buy it.

and it wouldnt have made the slightest difference in how i chose to feed my baby

nannyl · 03/02/2013 20:27

Oh yes... i use cloth nappies too, so would have sold the nappy wrapper on ebay, or given it away

nickelbabe · 08/02/2013 12:29

mothercare is doing the same thing.

here

it even says "newborn" in the blurb.
i think they are promoting ff because there's no breast pump in their range.

nannyl · 08/02/2013 13:41

nickelbabe i fail to understand how selling a set of bottles combined with a bottle brush and teet tweezers is promoting formula feeding.

Those items are necessary for anyone hoping to express their milk for anyone else to feed their baby.

why would they need to add a breast pump? afterall most women have hands that they could use to express..... or maybe they will be hiring one, or borrowing from their milk bank, or spending £300+ on a super double pump (like i had).

Last time i looked mothercare sold a whole range of breastpumps, along with pretty much everything else a breastfeeding mother may need

Whydobabiescry · 08/02/2013 13:56

Nannyl you are so right, I like you can't see why this is an issue at all.

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