Formula advertising to be banned!

[hunkermunker]

At last!

And no, it's not about being anti-formula.

so they're going to ban ads for follow on milk too?

HOORAY!!!!!!!

I do think there needs to be some provision of unbiased information setting out the pros/cons of formula and what the different ingredients claim to do to allow an informed decision to be made though.

I don't know. I can't find anything else about it anywhere. I want to think they're banning follow-on ads. It's not something that should be advertised - giving formula is not a "lifestyle choice", it's a decision that needs to be based on more than slogans and fluffy images of dads being lovely.

SD, yes, I agree.

Given that formula advertising is already banned, surely it has to be follow-on milk??

Yes, that's what I thought. Strange there's only this one story on it though.

has anyone seen the packaging for aptamil recently? www.babymilkaction.org/pics/photographs/aptamil0707a.jpg
inspired by breastmilk? how can they get away with mentioning BM in the same breath?

It's the "Best infant formula" that gets me too - how can they say THAT?! Nobody knows which the best formula is and why the FUCK are they competing for market share in something as important as the sole source of nutrition for many babies?

That's what's sick about the whole thing - I have NO problem with formula, which I hope people know by now - what I object to is the cynicism used by the businesses that promote it. It's not the same as a shampoo that promises to make your hair smoother/fuller/shinier - it's SO much more important than that. But it's being marketed like a shampoo or face cream, which is so damn wrong!

Actually, they say "best infant milk" which is patently untrue because the best is, undoubtedly, breastmilk.

oh yes, best infant formula. i actually found myself stamping my feet about it in Boots. how is it possible that they're not breaching guidelines thate? i remember the i felt when i saw that Aptamil and C&G both said 'closest to bm' on the pack. (given that i'd been shelling out for Aptamil...)

god, so they do, soupy...

Surely that's even worse than claiming to be closest to breastmilk. They're claiming to be better than it...

I really don't know how CEOs of these companies sleep at night

I don't really see why it is marketed at all - yes it should be available at a low cost to those who need it but in plain packaging with clear information (not guff about immunofartis or whatever crap they dreamed up last) about composition and ingredients, making up of feeds etc. Branding is unnecessary surely?

That Sunday Express story's really vague, isn't it. I did a search - couldn't find anything on the Department of Health website, but did find this in Hansard - the answer to a question on 25 October:

"Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process the Government followed in deciding its policy and interpretation of Commission Directive 2006/14/EC on Infant Formula and Follow-on-Formula; and when it expects to announce related decisions. [160484]

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency has consulted stakeholders on new draft regulations, which will implement EU directive 2006/141/EC on infant and follow-on formula, and will lay down rules about the composition, labelling and advertising of formulae. Comments received from the stakeholders are now being collated and evaluated by the agency. These will then be published together with the agency responses. The agency also intends to consult in the near future on the accompanying draft guidance notes. The directive requires that regulations come into force on 1 January 2008."

Do you think that's what the story's referring to?

I think if it is completely banned that will be great. I do suspect though that it will take generations before the breastfeeding rates really go up a lot. Mostly due to the current situation where a lot of families have the mother to be surrounded by the two generations above her who formula fed by choice from birth.

Badly written story, and no mention of the fact it is already illegal to advertise infant formula direct to mothers....I think it must refer to follow on formula, though you wouldn't know from the story.

Gumpowder, you say " I do think there needs to be some provision of unbiased information setting out the pros/cons of formula and what the different ingredients claim to do to allow an informed decision to be made though."

I totally agree - that's not gonna come from the manufacturers or advertising, of course.