challenging illegal formula packaging - sorry if this has already been posted but this is from the CEO of the NCT

[harpsichordcuddler]

"The NCT has been given a clear view from LACORS (the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services that some infant formula packaging currently on store shelves is illegal under current regulations.

In order for it to be removed from sale there needs to be a prosecution or threatened prosecution. Local Trading Standards Officers are the people who would bring a prosecution, but to do this they need to receive large numbers of complaints from across the UK.

Would you help? This is your chance to make a real difference.

Next time you are in a supermarket or chemist, check out the infant formula packs (this formula is labelled as ?suitable from birth?) and read the wording.

The wording we are informed is illegal is

? Formulated to be nutritionally close to breastmilk
? With omega 3 LCP,s
? Closer Than Ever to Breastmilk
? Inspired by breastmilk

You may find other wording which is similar.

Send photos or a description to your trading standards office (you can locate your nearest using this link)

Scotland www.scotss.org.uk/scotss2.htm

England www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/consumers/clegis.cfm

Wales www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/env_services/tradingstandards/

N Ireland www.detini.gov.uk/cgi-bin/get_builder_page?page=61&site=9&parent=110

Channel islands www.gov.je/EconomicDevelopment/TradingStandards/

With a note to say

?These packs were on display in my local xxxxxxx on date xxxxx and I believe them to be illegal under current legislation because of the wording on the packs.
Please note the words

[INSERT WORDING ON PACK]

My information is that this wording is likely to be illegal. Please would you follow this up for me and let me know the outcome. ?

They will do the rest. You don?t need to explain why you think it is illegal or comment any further ? just report it. The body from whom local TSOs take their lead has already advised us that this packaging is illegal. Your letter will push them to act."

oh I just got the bit about the wig
sorry, v dense.

Have metioned before on MN but grew up in PNG where,in response to infant mortality rates and vice like grip of formula companies,they made bottles available only on prescription and turned the whole thing around.

Not that I suggest it for this country to ,but largely thans to a group of women known as 'Susu Mama' (Mothers' milk)

DH does look quite similar to Captain Feathersword though [thoughtful]

which one's he?
it isn't the spotty dragon is it??

very true, wellie. i had a couple of grim-ish losses before i had dd and i lost count of the amount of people who said to me 'well it's all worth it now, you've got dd etc' as if what dh and i went through was deleted from our history when we had her. these are the things that shape our lives.

but otoh, i can see that The Main Thing is that we have her, and we've been lucky to have her and that is the bigger picture. in fact, a lot of people said that to me when i was goiing through the whole bfing trauma... 'it's not important, just feel lucky that you have her', little realising that i probably felt a greater debt to do the right thing by her because she had been the one to make it, iykwim?

like you say, very personal. that was my issue, not dd's, and it's something that i have had to put away to one side so that i can neglect her in the manner to which i aspire as a parent.

i'm shocked that people feel it's cool to say that this is all so much blah blah blah, though. it means the world to some of us, for a million different heartbreaks and reasons.

Enough of yer frivolous talk!

And..doing a bit of googling, stats show that 95 % of women in PNG are breastfeeding 2 years postpartum and 40% 4 years post partum.

How fantastic is that!

yes moony that is all rather marvellous
and now I must say adieu
adieu
adieu
adieu

No, don't go for green spotty dinosaurs much, but I'm funny that way.

harpsi, I don't doubt that for a minute (about a woman's birth experience being formative). In fact I'm sure that it's been formative for me too, and and also that the way I delivered my 2 was very important to me, just that I framed the priorities differently from some other people.

What I was getting at is that I can completely accept someone else's priorities without sharing them - and kind of wish others would extend me the same courtesy.

aitch, I don't wear my heart on my sleeve, but now I really have a lump in my throat.

Moondog, that is awesome.

amazing, moony!

oh yes absolutely welliemum I wasn't contradicting you at all
I think we are preaching to the choir here but yes very often people find it hard to see beyond their personal experience esp about parenting.
I think the antenatal diploma has been hugely helpful for me in this respect because the first part of it is a lot about debriefing your own experiences of birth, feeding, parenting, being parented &c and putting it in persepctive while acknowledging the effect it has had on your values &c.
incredibly difficult and painful in some ways but incredibly vital to be able to teach and support women without weeping all the time

Girls, may I make a heartfelt apology.

I was an arse last night. A total fecking arse. With particular reference to my extended breast-feeding debacle of a post.

I was a small, nasty little shit. Actually, I was a pissed small, nasty little shit, but that is no excuse. Most of the time I am a magnificent big shit, but even I can't laugh that one off.

Some interesting stuff here,including the fact that Saudi Arabia banned all adverts for formula in 1996

Thank you Desi. That means a lot actually

Although, i'd still like you to answer my questions.....

I'm a nosey barstard

thanks Desi very gracious of you and thanks.
HC xx

about preaching to the choir.

Years and years ago when I was a student I did a training course at the local hospice. A big chunk of the course consisted of exploring and talking about our own feelings about death and our experiences of bereavement.

They said you shouldn't talk to a dying person until you'd acknowledged your own feelings about dying, They were right.

Thanks desi, I really appreciate what you've said.

Well, VV, it ripped the shit out of me to say it

I was a nasty cow and I didn't even mean it.

I can well imagine

Which bit didnt you mean? Your insult or your apology? [stirs]

anyway as you have been so sweet we promise not to tell you how old our children were when we stopped

Thanks, Desi - much appreciated

Oh DS was 2. Still is 2 actually...he still asks for "booby" occasionally

and look, has anyone actually written to trading standards or wot?

hey desi, got a headache? well done for posting that.