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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

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

413 replies

harpsichordcuddler · 22/07/2007 21:44

"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."

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/07/2007 23:11

How did you have "all the information to hand"? Because that's my main beef (well, one of them) with formula companies - they're VERY cagey about what's actually in their products and they never substantiate their claims.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting re empowering women - yes, there are those who will search out what facts are available and make estimates about the gaps in those, but there are a lot who take things more on face value. I would like to change the face to a more honest one, that's all. At the moment it's more like Honest John, the used car salesman.

Posted by Hunker

Original poster
harpsichordcuddler · 22/07/2007 23:11

yes, and I am a fucking genocidal maniac as usual aitch
but I mustn't grumble
at least I am not a member of a violent organised crime ring
YET

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/07/2007 23:11

ditto harpsi.

Have to say, if you managed to find out the real contents of formula, then you are very lucky. Most of us mere mortals havent been able to. For some reason, they (the formula companies), dont like to let it be known where their ingredients derive from.

Twinklemegan · 22/07/2007 23:12

lol

Aitch · 22/07/2007 23:13

hunker fgs just sign up again. i've got the Muffiosa name, though, so you missed that golden opportunity.

why haven't they just banned mention of bm on the f packs, btw? is there a real reason?

Twinklemegan · 22/07/2007 23:15

I'm putting my hands up now.

I am guilty as charged for being swayed in my choice of formula brand by what was written on the packet.

Guilty as hell. I have no right to comment on the issue.

That doesn't make the lies right. I know this.

Aitch · 22/07/2007 23:15

c'mon, harpsi, join my muffia. it's great fun. we've got guns and we shoot people who say things like 'eeeeew, shouldn't you be doing that in private?'

elkiedee · 22/07/2007 23:15

I would have loved to be able to restart breastfeeding after it was disrupted courtesy of an NHS hospital with lots of pro-breastfeeding policies at between 1 and 2 weeks. Believe me I've tried. Do you seriously expect women to give up feeding their babies because formula milk isn't as good as breastmilk for them? Yes, I know, which is why I'm still frequently crying over my failure to breastfeed. No amount of rhetoric from posters who may be knowledgeable about the health benefits of bf but are totally ignorant about the problems faced by some women is going to change that. Grrrr.

Original poster
harpsichordcuddler · 22/07/2007 23:15

Twinkle do you think it might be an example of one of those clever advertising things where someone says something, without directly saying it
e.g. well others might say that the primeminister is a total twat but I couldn't possibly comment.
well, inspired by breastmilk is a bit like that isn't it?
it mamnages to mention the magic word "breastmilk" but really says fuck all

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/07/2007 23:16

My problem with "inspired by breastmilk" is that it sounds aspirational. Whether that's a logical objection or not, I don't know.

But I mind anything that makes formula anything other than that which it ought to be - something you feed your baby if you can't or don't want to breastfeed.

I mind the brand building they do, the fact that some women only feed SMA Gold because "it's got gold in its name so it must be good", for instance.

I've done market research surveys, countless ones, where they ask you whether the brand seems like one you'd be friends with, what sort of qualities the brand has (loyal, sense of humour, etc, etc) - I know how their minds work.

And the "inspired" line is part of that. It says "look at us, we took breastmilk and we made it BETTER". It might not say that outright, but you can bet that some advertising/marketing bod came up with it for just that reason. Same as the SMA logo that had us all with knotted knickers a little while ago. I know damn well they chose it because it implies a bfeeding mother - but the other side can be argued equally well - muddying the waters and setting us against each other.

The only thing that matters here is whether mothers are getting accurate information upon which to base their decision about which milk to feed their baby.

ALL formula was "inspired by breastmilk" if you follow the logic of "it is to feed babies with" - so it becomes a meaningless statement. I object to formula packaging having anything fancy or "brand loyal" on it, actually.

Posted by Hunker

FlameDelacour · 22/07/2007 23:16

You REALLY need a different name HUnker...

Twinklemegan · 22/07/2007 23:16

So, as I said, they should stop fannying about and ban the use of the word "breastmilk".

BreastfeedingNazi · 22/07/2007 23:17

I find this one produces a lot of faces

Aitch · 22/07/2007 23:17

me too, twink. i bought aptamil because i was told by two doctors and a midwife and my auntie who phoned up to tell me that it's what my cousin used when she was topping-up her daughter in the beginning. and why is it the best? every one of them said 'it's closest to breastmilk'.

FlameDelacour · 22/07/2007 23:18

I chose formula based on my friend tellin me it was the better one... I have no idea if her original reason for using it was the breastmilk comparison

elkiedee · 22/07/2007 23:18

I will add, formula companies shouldn't be allowed to make further packaging saying that, but I don't see the point in trying to get existing stock pulled from shelves. Particularly in small shops as opposed to supermarkets. It isn't your local shop's fault that the manufacturers put misleading labelling on the packaging, but I suspect the costs would be heavier for them than the supermarkets.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/07/2007 23:19

Elkie, I think you have missed the issue here somewhat.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/07/2007 23:19

Elkiedee, I don't know who your post was directed at, but I promise you I'm not ignorant of the problems faced by women.

I'm sorry you've had such a hard time

Posted by Hunker

Original poster
harpsichordcuddler · 22/07/2007 23:19

elkiedee why would you think I am ignorant of the problems of bf women? I am sorry to hear about your experiences. I hear similar things every week. it makes me sad and angry. it makes me want to do soemthing.
so I do something. it is precisely because I know about those type of experiences that I am energised to act
one of the things I do is try and campaign against women being lied to.
it is just
one of the things though.

OP posts:
elkiedee · 22/07/2007 23:19

The hospital chose the formula milk we ended up using, it was what they gave my baby to feed him up.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/07/2007 23:20

The formula companies would have to compensate for items being pulled off shelves. It is their product, after all.

Twinklemegan · 22/07/2007 23:20

Ironically, I didn't buy Aptamil because I'd never heard of it and I wasn't going to pay a pound more for something I'd never heard of. If someone had told me it was "closest to breastmilk" I'd have bought it.

I'm actively proving everything you're saying here Hunker and Harpsi. I'm exposing myself as a stupid twat and helping your cause. I do hope you appreciate it.

NorbertStanleyFletcher · 22/07/2007 23:21

Ok Hunker (who is not here obv)

I am in and am going to take my camera with me tomorrow

Original poster
harpsichordcuddler · 22/07/2007 23:22

twinkle
bless you aitch for allowing me to join the muffia.
what sort of guns do you have?

OP posts:
Aitch · 22/07/2007 23:23

elkiedee, really and truly a lot of us understand where you're coming from. i've been there, so has twinkle and others of us too. not only that, i believe that most if not all of the successful bfers who are posting on this thread have tried very hard to understand the feelings of people who haven't managed to bf. i've spoken to them many times, we've had good conversations well ino the wee hours.