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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:
kslatts · 04/01/2008 11:17

I watched last night's ee's and noticed the SMA carton, I was quite surprised it was there. I formula fed my 2 dd's and don't have a problem with Tanya FF her baby, especially as like others have said Honey BF her baby. I do agree though that ee's should not have shown the carton.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/01/2008 11:20

but if they have other product placement (as in the pram or whatever) does it matter that they put a thing of SMA there ? people seem to get too twitchy about formula feeding

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 11:27

It's not illegal to advertise prams though, it is, however, illegal to advertise formula milk.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/01/2008 11:27

ok, didn'tr realise it was actually illegal, but still, it's not something to get in a tizz about,surely ?

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 11:35

The thing is MAS, why it's actually illegal.

Too many new mothers end up formula feeding or being unsuccessful with breastfeeding, because they don't have the right information about breastfeeding.

Now, I'm all for someone wanting to formula feed, if they have been able to look at all the information and decide that it is what is best for them, but when it is done partly because it is advertised as 'normal' or as good as breastmilk etc, I don't think it is fair.

And nor do the people who banned the advertising for formula, which is why it is illegal.

Fair enough, most new mums won't decide to formula feed because of a lone tin in Eastenders, anymore than they'll wean their baby at whatever age Tanya's LO is because there was some baby food on the side, but it's the continuous subliminal messages that occur with this form of product placement and the very clever advertising of follow-on-milk etc that are the problem.

Which is why it is quite a big deal really.

LIZS · 04/01/2008 11:36

It's not legal or necessary to the storyline, they know better and should be
taken to task. Unfortunately the manufacturer is in a win-win situation - no such thing as bad publicity , and yes some people are that naive as to blindly take product placement as a positive endorsement. Unless they show a link between the formula and a failure to thrive/illness etc. But then I'm sure they'd happily sue the BBC/Production company is they did.

MacavitysCat · 04/01/2008 11:41

SMA will have paid a substantial amount of money for that product placement. Why would they have paid money if they didn't think it would boost their sales/brand awareness?

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/01/2008 11:42

ok,point taken - suppose I'm just coming from the point of view that I trusted my own judgements when it came to choosing feeding options for ds and assume that others will be able to make those decisions themselves. FWIW I couldn't breastfeed and I did try, so ds did get fed formula milk (SMA as it happens!) - it was far less stressful to give in to formula in the end and I can see no harm in it as ds has flourished into a slim,healthy (and very rarely ill) boy who eats a huge variety of healthy stuff and is bright and happy ( I realise this isn't the thread for discussing the merits of formula but it worked for us)

MacavitysCat · 04/01/2008 11:45

There will be women with newborn babies watching EE and SMA know that. They will also know that some of those women will be struggling with a fretful/colicky baby and they will see that the baby on EE hardly ever cries, hardly ever needs feeding and sleeps a lot. As we all know mums of newborns would do anything for some sleep and a happy baby so perhpas they'll think that SMA would be the thing to help them. That's how it works and that's why it's wrong.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/01/2008 11:56

but formula isn't actually going to harm them is it ?

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/01/2008 11:58

actua;ly, I don'tr want to get into an argument about this - it's just in my experience,formula milk isn't really the dreadful thing some people on mumsnet see it as. It nourished my son perfectly well and thjat's how I judge it.

foxythesnowman · 04/01/2008 12:03

Its more about inappropriate product placement that which is better I think. It could be formula, it could be Tesco's cornflakes IYSWIM.

I was wondering what that baby was fed on as he never seems to interupt them at inopportune moments, and haven't seen him actually being fed (but them I'm usually on here at the same time).

They did show Honey breastfeeding her baby though.

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 12:03

Lol MAS, no, formula isn't going toharm them as such, but it is going to be unfair on these mothers if they don't do it for the right reasons.

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 12:06

not really getting into these kind of arguments but scrolled down out of boredom and saw a comment about breastfed babies having bottles

well bizarre as it may sem i did have a child who never had asny kind of bottle just a cup and was exclusively breastfed didnt have any formula

and carried on being breastfed till she was one

so er it does happen

i also had two other children who either side of her werent breastfed

do people really notice this stuff on progs like eastenders or is it just because you are aware i always used to notice portmeirion botanic garden china in progs as i had it myself doubt anyone who sidnt have it registered it so i guess on that argument sdomeone who was using formula might notice or someone who was interested

i have given up watching tv altoghether as it is al cack anyway

LIZS · 04/01/2008 12:07

It may not be strictly formula vs breast in this case, but SMA are using this as a marketing opportunity, trying to get one over , illegally, on its rivals all vying for a greater market share of the formula feeding mum market. And they are using underhand means,if I were one of the other formula companies, I'd kick up a fuss on principle.

Also remember this on BBC where advertising is supposed to be limited because the licence payers fund it. They still blank out logos and brand names.

LadyTophamHatt · 04/01/2008 12:10

Coming to this one late but I knew Mn would debate this wehn I watched EE for the first time in months last night.
18 months ago I wouldn't have given a flying f**k about it but it did get my heckles up last night.

EE and SMA know full well that it shouldn't have been there, Fine have a tin of formula to make the scene look realalistic but have the brand turned away OR easier still have a row of six made up bottles-no brand on them then...

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 12:11

can the bbc accept cash for product placement i would have thought not so surely it is an error

MacavitysCat · 04/01/2008 12:11

If you ever watch an arty programme on cbeebies (and even the shop in Balamory) they go a long way to cover up the brand names of everything they use. But at the same time the bbc is doing blatant product placement of a brand of formula because they are getting paid

IorekByrnison · 04/01/2008 12:12

Has anyone contacted the BBC yet?

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 12:14

In the same episode of EE there was a large tin of formula powder (possibly farleys or sma white as the lid was blue) but it was turned away from camera.

Surely that's making the scene look realistic enough?

laundrylover · 04/01/2008 12:14

Haven't read the thread but wanted to say that on Neighbours, Skye (a young mum too!) both expressed and bfed. It was all a bit easy especially as her baby was stolen at birth and ffed (these things do happen you know)but all the same, good to see.

Another reason why this is the only soap I watch (or did until it disapearred the other week).

LIZS · 04/01/2008 12:16

I also think the bbc props dept could manage to rustle up some non specific looking tins if that is what is required for the story line. They don't have to use real products at all.

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 12:19

it is illegal

here

to accept payment

IorekByrnison · 04/01/2008 12:19

You can phone the BBC to complain here

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 12:21

there was a big scandal about it two years ago and they investigated