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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

SMA GOLD ON EASTENDERS?

488 replies

Dalrymps · 03/01/2008 20:43

I probably don't know what i'm on about but i just flicked on to eastenders and during one scene there was a carton of SMA Gold on the surface in the background, it was the house of the one who has just had the baby with the ginger husband i think (not too sure cause i don't really watch it), anyway i think her baby in it is quite young...
Anyway, i was just wondering if this is allowed, i mean, isn't it like an indirect form of advertising formula for newborns? I'm not totally against formula or anything, I mix feed myself, I just think it seems like their advertising it when they shouldn't? Any thoughts on this?

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 20:44

I saw it, behind Tanya.
On the work surface.

stripeymama · 03/01/2008 20:45

No idea what the law says but I noticed it too. Will look up about product placement and formula.

stripeymama · 03/01/2008 20:48

Found this

Original poster
Dalrymps · 03/01/2008 20:58

hmm well i don't think it's right, seems they'll find any way to advertise... it would be ok to show her bottle feeding but they don't need to show the actual brand of formula do they...

OP posts:
beansprout · 03/01/2008 20:59

Good forbid a soap character should breastfeed...

ihateironing · 03/01/2008 21:00

yip i saw it 2!!!!!

2shoes · 03/01/2008 21:09

i saw it and was rather shocked

fishie · 03/01/2008 21:14

lower down in that rather depressing discussion (stripeymama well found) someone suggests that it is reported to see what happens.

anybody here up for this? i didn't see it.

Original poster
Dalrymps · 03/01/2008 21:19

how do you report it then?

OP posts:
stripeymama · 03/01/2008 21:20

Not sure how to report it - suppose email producers and cc to Baby Milk Action and other organisations?

ihateironing · 03/01/2008 21:22

off the top of my head
baby milk action
head of bbc

no idea im afraid!!!

Original poster
Dalrymps · 03/01/2008 21:42

hmm, don't usually do this sort of thing, sure there will be someone on here who knows a lot more about it???

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 22:47

Points of view?

I really have no idea what the law says or who you would have to speak to to gte it changed, having said that though, Honey does breastfeed her child so I would've thought that Eastenders would just say it is a fair way to show two babies being fed differently iyswim.
I know they can use 'brands' as such in their shows but don't know if the ban on baby milk advertising would change this.

PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 22:51

Oh God.....get a life!

EdieMcredie · 03/01/2008 22:53

Changing the subject slightly, makes me laugh how you never see that baby, Tanya has an easy life for a single mother with 3 kids, including a very new one!

And as for Honey BFing, that baby can go an amazing length of time between feeds

TheAccidentalParent · 03/01/2008 22:58

Don't think having your product shown on EEs is going to promote it. Who on earth looks to EE for parenting role models?

VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 22:59

Excuse me pussinjimmychoos???
'Get a life?'
So because you don't agree with people thinking this is wrong, and possibly illegal we need to 'get a life'.
I suggest if your life is so flipping great you get back to it instead of wasting your time posting on issues that clearly don't concern you.

PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 23:05

I'm a parent, I breast fed and gave formula so the whole issue does concern me.

While I understand (although do not necessarily agree with) the issues concerning adverts for breast milk, I fail to see why having a carton of SMA in the background on a TV programme should be reported!

I mean one character had an iCandy pram, Honey has a nifty double buggy, yet I don't see anyone moaning on about inappropriate product placement there!

Too much fuss over formula imo and it makes women who cannot breastfeed for whatever reasons feel pretty crappy!

stripeymama · 03/01/2008 23:05

Well...

I don't think its as simple as people "looking to EE for parenting models" IMO soaps do affect/reflect people's attitudes, and offer a fantastic opportunity for bf to be normalised.

And as for "get a life" - if its is illegal product placement then it is only right that it should be complained about.

stripeymama · 03/01/2008 23:08

Yes, but choice of pram does not have the same implications as that of feeding method!

Women who cannot breastfeed have nothing to feel crappy/guilty about. But the producers of programmes that attract audiences of millions do (IMO) have a responsibility to ensure that they are normalising bf, as they do with other health related issues.

Original poster
Dalrymps · 03/01/2008 23:13

As i say i just wanted to point it out cause don't know if they're supposed to do that with the ban on advertising formula, thats all, was just curious

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 23:13

Being a parent that breastfed and used formula does not mean that you personally are concerned with possibly illegal product placement of formula milk.
That is something you have to choose to care about, and quite frankly if I wish to discuss with others the possibilty of the legalities and the responsibilty television producers have in their role then you posting 'get a life' seems rather pathetic imo.
Why waste your time??

hunkermunker · 03/01/2008 23:16

There's a very, very detailed programme information sheet for each episode of every programme, so they'll know full well that this tin of SMA was in shot on this episode.

And, since the baby is tiny, it's infant formula and advertising it is illegal, so it's breaking the Code to have it in EastEnders.

The Code is there for excellent reasons and it's not about making women feel bad (that, you'll be interested to hear, is something the formula manufacturers play on and actually want to happen - women telling other women off for "making them feel guilty" - it's part of their marketing strategy).

StayingQuiet · 03/01/2008 23:17

I would imagine it was illegal given that advertising formula for babies under 6 months is illegal. Sma gold is for babies under 6 months. It does matter and it shouldn't have been shown because people ARE influenced by advertising; if they weren't companies wouldn't spend millions of pounds on advertising their products.

Twinklemegan · 03/01/2008 23:17

Why am I not surprised?