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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

not looking for a row, but has anyone seen the new SMA logo? the one that looks like the mum is bf?

673 replies

harpsichordcarrier · 14/04/2007 21:39

here's the logo

you tube clip here

sma site

way to get round the new advertising rules, which forbid them from saying "close to breastmilk" &c
anyone like to complain? I would like them, very much, to have to change their logo and slogan again. especially as they have clearly spent quite a bit of wonga on it.

OP posts:
yellowrose · 18/04/2007 16:52

just looked at a tin of sma in my local co-op - i know, i don't usually shop there - was desparate for some orange juice for ds it does have a list of ingredients: has a disclaimer at the end of a long list of ingredients that says: "this product contains milk and soya, if your baby is allergic to either, don't use it", or something of that nature. so what do you do if your baby IS allergic to milk and soya, what is the alternative ?

it must have been an old tin because it had the old logo, just what looks like two heads over the M and a baby duck and it says under the logo "now even closer to breast milk"

next to it was a tin of aptimil (spelling ?) that had been reduced to £4 something and said "for a quick sale on it" - are supermarkets allowed to put formula on sale ? must check with BMA.

tiktok · 18/04/2007 16:53

Deffo illegal if it is infant formula, yellow.

Take a pic and send to baby Feeding law group.

yellowrose · 18/04/2007 17:00

yes tiktok, it was defo. a big carton of aptimil. i thought i had read on BMA website that they should not reduce infant formula and put on sale, will go in with my digital next time and do a 007 job ! i remember tesco used to do it too, will check out tesco next time i go there.

tiktok · 18/04/2007 17:29

Wear your false moustache and trilby, won't you, yellow

Hulababy · 18/04/2007 17:31

yellowrose - friend's DS can't have dairy. Since stopping breastfeeding, he has a substitue, think it was prescribed by GP.

yellowrose · 18/04/2007 17:46

oh yes, someone might think i am a perv. if i go in with a trench coat in this weather but will do me best ! actually the staff there are lovely, i hope i don't intimidate them, will do it quietly and say i needed a photo for son's school project or something

ok hula - just wondered because i wasn't sure what you do if a baby can't have normal formula/soya

mush4brains · 18/04/2007 19:11

talking of supermarkets flouting the law, are they able to offer extra reward points on formula? Does it just apply to formulas for under 6 months?

yellowrose · 18/04/2007 19:15

that would be too much like a promotion - it would encourage you to buy more of the formula with extra points - is it tesco or someone else ?

i would have thought a promotion like that would be illegal

Twinklemegan · 18/04/2007 19:54

No they're not allowed to offer reward points on infant formula for. They can for follow-on milks. You are all going to shout me down now, but I think it's a pretty stupid rule tbh. Formula still costs (a lot) doesn't it? So why on earth would allowing reward points to be earned on formula make a woman choose formula instead of breastfeeding. It's another of those stupid rules that make the Government look like they're doing something when in fact they're ignoring all the big issues.

Someone made the point earlier on about formula companies being in competition and there being no mechanism to share research and ensure all the milks are as good as one another. Two points - firstly, the stock response is that all the formulas ARE as good (or bad if you like) as one another. Secondly, this problem also exists with prescription medicines and medical research in general. Making formula prescription only is unlikely to prevent this, although I am actually in favour of formula being available only on prescription.

Twinklemegan · 18/04/2007 19:55

I don't agree, however, that promotions should be allowed whereby one brand has more points available or money off as that could encourage women to switch brands for the wrong reasons.

mush4brains · 18/04/2007 20:05

Someone gave me some Boots vouchers offerng extra reward card points. Cant remember all the details as I have shreaded them now, otherwise would have kept them & reported it. It may have been for following on milk though. Maybe someone else will remember or have been given some.

Twinklemegan · 18/04/2007 20:07

Mush - they can't give reward points full stop let along extra ones. I think it must have been follow-on milk.

mush4brains · 18/04/2007 20:13

Probably, see living up to my name!!!

yellowrose · 18/04/2007 20:15

mush - it was probably for follow on milk. i remember the bounty box i was given when ds was born had quite a few promotions, vouchers, samples of follow on, nothing for formula itself.

i actually agree with you twinkle. i don't think women choose to ff because some one is giving away vouchers or extra points or discounts. the choice is much more fundamental than that. it is because formula is a readily available alternative to bf and it is now a social norm in this country.

tiktok · 18/04/2007 20:49

The law is a version of an equivalent or quasi equivalent clause in the WHO code.

It's to make sure the choice to formula feed is one based on a realistic assessment of cost - a permanently lower price for formula would be permitted (and I for one would think that would be a good idea - I have always argued that formula is over-priced, probably because of the marketing budgets having to be found from the profits). What is not permitted is a temporary lower price, or temporary extra points.

These aspects of the law are broken every day by all the big supermarkets and by all the manufacturers.

Twinklemegan · 18/04/2007 22:18

I've been shopping at Tesco for ages though and the whole time I've had DS (nearly 9 months) I have never once seen any brand of regular formula on offer. And they don't give reward points on formula either.

hunkermunker · 18/04/2007 22:51

I've seen (and complained about) cut-price infant formula in Boots, Superdrug, Moss, Sainsbury's and Budgens. They've all taken it off display and I've not seen it again. And I often check.

Twinklemegan · 18/04/2007 22:54

Gosh - I really thought that if anyone was doing it, it would be Tesco.

AitchTwoOh · 18/04/2007 23:06

how come it's all you breastfeeding bastards that are seeing cut-price formula and powder-lackeys like me and twinkle are shelling out fortunes here?

Twinklemegan · 18/04/2007 23:07

lol Aitch.

hunkermunker · 18/04/2007 23:08

PMSL Aitch. Anyone else called me a breastfeeding bastard and I'd swing for 'em But not you

Original poster
harpsichordcarrier · 18/04/2007 23:09

yes, I have complained about reduced formula in Sainsburys and the Co-op. the sainsburys store manager was abashed. but the co-op lady gave me SO much aggro. I rang their ho and they sent me a lovely letter next time shall I buy you some aitch

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 18/04/2007 23:10
Original poster
harpsichordcarrier · 18/04/2007 23:10

their Head Office, that is. rather than their whore.

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 18/04/2007 23:11

you rang their ho? what did she have to say? 'leave me alone beeeyatch. i got tings to do.'