Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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 · 04/01/2008 12:23

I do watch EE, and I do like it, but I think the choice of the way they are showing bf/ff is a bit too stereotypical for my liking.
Tanya- the more shall we say 'sassy'? mum that has given birth recently, owns her own business, as I said earlier has Sean Slater!, seems to be able to go where she wants, when she wants, FF, yet Honey, who to be fair is supposed to be a bit of a dippy hippy, always has one baby or the other with her and is married to Billy Mitchell, breastfed

mum2sons · 04/01/2008 13:08

There is a space on the BBC website to leave feedback and complain, easy and simple to do (have just done it!) Also babymilk action will want to know about this. Regardless of the breast v bottle debate, illegal is illegal.

FioFio · 04/01/2008 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pinkcandyfloss · 04/01/2008 13:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

pinkcandyfloss · 04/01/2008 13:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/01/2008 14:37

actually the props dept could have had fun designing a pretend brand of baby milk as they do all those ficticious lager and beer brands in the Vic...

Elsie123 · 04/01/2008 14:59

I saw Tanya attaching a pin to one side of her clothing while she was on the phone to the agency, and thought this was a reminder pin for BF.. The plot thickens! But I'm about to sign off now as my ds has just woken up!

hunkermunker · 04/01/2008 15:01

I think they haven't been explicit with how Tanya's feeding Oscar, but it's utterly irrelevant - there was a tin of SMA on the side in EE and it ought not to have been there. That's just it, really. All the well I did it, oh you're making women feel guilty, it's possible to combine both, formula's not poison, yadayadayada stuff is the reddest of red herrings.

mum2sons · 04/01/2008 15:18

Totally agree Hunkermunker. If they had 200 marlboro lights on the side, the same would apply! (Except they probably wouldnt think they could get away with that and that is a reason why they need educating )

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:20

so have any of you emailed the bbc with your concerns

hunkermunker · 04/01/2008 15:24

Yep, Zippi.

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 15:30

OK, I may well have missed the explaination but why is this illegal?

Obviously formula adverftising is illegal but this isn't advertising, it's a prop. Just as th icandy is a prop.

Is there a specific rule relating to the use of formula as a prop?

Should it have been pixelated? hooded perhaps?

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:34

it's illegal if it's product placement ie rewarded

ineedsunshine · 04/01/2008 15:38

Not read the whole thread- so may be talking a big load of shite..... but on one progg EE, you have two new mums, one bf and one formula - me thinks thats a fair reflection

ineedsunshine · 04/01/2008 15:40

sorry for my post - looks like it has already been mentioned. ooopps

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 15:43

So those who are complaining about it...Does this mean you think staff at EE have illegally accepted payments in exchange for showing SMA Gold on screen?

Is there some evidence for this?

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 15:46

If it hasn't been rewarded then I would imagine all other formula companies would be very interested in why SMA was chosen.
Especially with such strict regulations on how they can and cannot advertise infant formula.
And yes, I have contacted the BBC, and the advertising complaints authority.

JingleyJen · 04/01/2008 15:48

As mentioned earlier - honey has breastfed her little one - she even mentioned what a joy it was to be able to feed him as she hadn't been able to make it work with Janet (the daughter with Downs syndrome) I remember it clearly as I had just been able to make breastfeeding work easily with DS2 having had a heck of a struggle with DS1.

As for advertising it is either legal or not - if it is illegal the box of formula needs to go.

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:50

quite possibly it was just bought by props

i had an order from east enders props before now for mugs penguin book titles actually

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 15:50

Well, why not SMA - if the character formula feeds her baby then it would be authentic to show a pack in the kitchen, wouldn't it?

How did they choose the icandy?

It really doesn't matter what the other formula companies think, they dont all need fair representation as it's NOT advertising.

It's a prop.

hunkermunker · 04/01/2008 15:51

Nobody seen my posts about the detailed product placement sheets for progs like EE then?!

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:51

and so would be quite random i doubt the props assistant would necessarily be aware that there are rules about formula and what a minefield it is in certain quarters

hunkermunker · 04/01/2008 15:51

JV, because it's illegal to advertise infant formula.

It's not illegal to advertise prams.

Please tell me you don't think it's the same thing...

hunkermunker · 04/01/2008 15:52

Well, if you're making a programme that has a reach like EE, you ought to know things like this. There's a director, no? Who's paid quite a bit to know stuff like this.

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 15:53

JeremyVile, as alcohol is not allowed to be advertised they make their own pretend versions, they could do the same with formula, it would be an rather different job to make a non-branded buggy and the buggy was probably given to EE for free to be advertised.

It is not illegal to advertise the iCandy, it is however illegal to advertise infant formula.