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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:
PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 23:18

Yes but Tanya was hardly dancing around saying how wonderful formula was and how it was easier than b/feeding was she?

It was just a carton of it on the side - she wasn't even pouring it into the bottle! I fail to see how that would influence someone's choice of feeding!

hunkermunker · 03/01/2008 23:18

Interesting that you say "ads for breast milk" PussInJimmyChoos. Did you mean formula?

Original poster
Dalrymps · 03/01/2008 23:18

yeah, by the way, i agree with VS - if you aren't bothered about this issue then why come on here just to insult everyone who is? think you should get a life actually

OP posts:
stripeymama · 03/01/2008 23:19

Ah Hunkermunker - who do we complain to?

Am I right then to think its illegal?

hunkermunker · 03/01/2008 23:21

Report here

stripeymama · 03/01/2008 23:21

PussInJimmyChoos - as I said, its the normalisation of ff that is the issue. It is being portrayed as normal, which in far too many people's minds, is equal to best.

VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 23:25

pussinjimmychoos, you may be lucky enough to have had good information on breast/bottle feeding, you may have been able to wade through the many different arguments for and against that formula manufacturers push on women that don't always know anything else.

The whole point of not advertising formula milk is to make sure all women can make their decision based on facts rather than advertising.

The same goes for Eastenders having the box on the side. It says to any new mothers, especially ones who may possibly look at Tanya as a role model (she is after all a good-looking woman with her own business who has been strong enough to throw her husband out on the street and get the best looking bloke on the square running around after her) that 'SMA is good'. That is not helpful to anyone.

Twinklemegan · 03/01/2008 23:25

You know, I was watching a film the other night "Meet the Fockers". And you know what really struck me was that it mentioned breastfeeding, nipple confusion and featured expressed breastmilk. Yes I know the portrayal is pretty wacky (fake rubber breasts for example), but it really make me notice just how little breastfeeding is even mentioned in films and on TV. Whereas as has been said. formula feeding is just portrayed as the norm. I think that has a very serious drip drip effect into the general consciousness.

hunkermunker · 03/01/2008 23:27

Gok Wan, who I normally adore, said that breastfeeding makes your boobs sag on How To Look Good Naked last night. It doesn't, it's pregnancy that has the effect - made me grr to hear him say that!

PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 23:28

Its not normalising it though is it - we haven't actually seen her pouring it into the bottle so for all we know, it could just be an emergency carton on the side....

Hunker - yes, meant to type adverts for formula instead of adverts for breast milk

I am bothered about this as like I said, while I can understand the concerns of direct advertising of formula and its impact on the choice people make, I fail to see how a carton on the side in the background is a problem and am quite surprised people want to complain about it

Twinklemegan · 03/01/2008 23:29

"it really make me notice"! It seems I've acquired a broken accent.

Twinklemegan · 03/01/2008 23:31

Like I said, it's that drip drip effect. It's like subliminal messages. What we need is subliminal messages of the opposite kind. We need to see extras in the background, breastfeeding in the caff, casual references in the course of a conversation, etc. I think over a long period time it could start to have an effect.

hunkermunker · 03/01/2008 23:31

Well, Sean said he'd fed the baby before she woke up in tonight's EE, so I don't think she's breastfeeding, PIJC.

I really can't see how anyone can fully understand all the arguments for the ban on infant formula and think this is OK, truly.

stripeymama · 03/01/2008 23:32

Well I don't see how Sean Slater could've fed the baby if she was bf....

PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 23:34

He may have fed the baby using expressed breast milk but we haven't seen any breast pumps as the BBC don't want to product place or show Tanya expressing....

PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 23:36

Hunker - do you mean a ban on advertising formula or a ban on it completely

"I really can't see how anyone can fully understand all the arguments for the ban on infant formula and think this is OK, truly"

VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 23:37

I always thought that saggy breasts were cause by the stretching of the ligaments, which is prevented by wearing good quality, well fitting bras.

VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 23:41

I think that's a pretty sill question personlly, what would be the point of banning infant formula?
It is a great thing to have, and to be able to fall back on if we for some reason do not breastfeed, but that is what it is, a subsitute, a back-up if the way our body was meant to work doesn't happen or is decided against.
And that is precisely how it should be shown.

Twinklemegan · 03/01/2008 23:42

For the avoidance of doubt btw, I struggled and eventually failed with breastfeeding and have argued strongly on here that formula is an essential lifeline. But that still doesn't make product placement right in this context IMO.

stripeymama · 03/01/2008 23:43

My breasts are not saggy despite 18 months of bf. Whilst I was still bf they were soooo lovely and cleavagesome!

PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 23:43

That's my point - how do you know it wasn't just a back up carton on the side? We haven't seen her cutting the carton open and pouring from it have we? Nor have we seen her feeding the baby with a carton in front of her

hunkermunker · 03/01/2008 23:44

Oh, advertising. Sorry, am taking calls from DH at hospital as I write. Mind not on job and all that.

PussinJimmyChoos · 03/01/2008 23:45

Hospital? Hope he is ok!

VictorianSqualor · 03/01/2008 23:45

Oh come on PJC, we have seen her plenty of times with a bottle, and I doubt very much if she was breastfeeding she would have back-up cartons of SMA on the side, she would have EBM would she not?
You're just being pedantic for the sake of it now.

Twinklemegan · 03/01/2008 23:45

I just think "why?". Why get into such a grey area when they could have just left it out of the scene altogether? Incidentally, my back up formula was in the top kitchen cupboard where I hoped it would stay.

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