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Infant feeding

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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:
JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 15:53

Yes, weren't you saying that that everything within the scene will be listed, checked and approved?

I don't get your point, unless I've missed somethging?

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:53

so they will be grateful to have it drawn to their attention by the eagle eyed viewers eh babe

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:54

they cant accept freebies tho of anything it's ilegal if the purpose is product palcement

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 15:55

Yes VS but it IS illegal for BBC to advertise ANYTHING - so nothing they show is an advert, it is a PROP.

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 15:55

Approved as in, is this legal?

Hence the no alcohol product placement or cigarette placement.

Also I think I mentioned earlier there are other tins of powdered formula on the side in the Brannings kitchen, turned away so as not to show the label. This must have been purposeful.

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:56

it's an eu regulation on product placement

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 15:57

no freebies or rewards

mum2sons · 04/01/2008 16:00

I have complained to BBC.

It IS illegal. I couldn't care less how they feed their babies on EE, it is the fact that they are being seen to promote a brand of infant formula which is meant for newborn babies. That is not allowed in the UK on TV, magazines, shops or anywhere. EE could be facing a heavy penalty for this. Totally different to prams, nappies etc.

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 16:02

but is it advertising..it shouldn't be

so if it isn't advertising is it illegal..

a conundrum

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 16:11

It is NOT illegal.

It would be illegal if the character was singing the praise of formula but it is ABSOLUTELY NOT illegal to have SMA (or any other brand) in the background as a prop.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 04/01/2008 16:13

They so could show a baby being BF on soaps. They did it on Brookside years ago. The woman wore the same shirt as Suzanna Farnham and was a similar look. Made it seem like she, SF, was actually BFing.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 04/01/2008 16:13

JV - have read any of the stuff hunker has linked to?

VictorianSqualor · 04/01/2008 16:15

It very well could be, depending on how the SMA got there in the first place, if for example, the BBC used a 'prop house' a compnay that provides props that were paid by SMA, then it is most definitely illegal.

If they merely said to the props department, 'get some milk for the brannings house' and SMA was used to make it seem 'more realistic' then it is in a grey area.

The legality of it is not easily answered, but it does seem strange that they would use SMA but not alcohol or cigarettes, due to the nature of the alcohol/cigarettes advertising laws, yet would be legally allowed to use infant formula.

mum2sons · 04/01/2008 16:15

I cannot imagine that they could get away with eating a big mac "up west" with the logo showing!

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 16:16

I think I have looked at it all QV, have I missed a link stating that formula as a prop is illegal?

mum2sons · 04/01/2008 16:17

There are VERY clear rules about the promotion of infant formula on telly/magazines etc.

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 16:20

Promotion is not allowed.

A brief glimpse of SMA in the background IN CONTEXT (as in, in the kitchen of a new FFING mother) is not classed as promotion.

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 16:21

but you are suggesting then that the bbc were illegally placing a product and it so happens that that product was formula

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 04/01/2008 16:22

that was to mum2sons

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 04/01/2008 16:23

I have seen Avent stilisers before. I wonder if things are ther to use for real for the actor playing the charaters baby, and therefore EE hasn't thought anything about it.

bubblagirl · 04/01/2008 16:24

they did a big thing in eastenders with honey and breast feeding

and had the normal day to day comments of not wanting to see it and others thinking it was great

so bf is also being shown

pinkcandyfloss · 04/01/2008 16:27

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

JeremyVile · 04/01/2008 16:35

By VeniVidiVickiQV on Fri 04-Jan-08 16:13:48
JV - have read any of the stuff hunker has linked to?

I've gone back and looked again - still dont see what it is you think I have missed.

By hunkermunker on Fri 04-Jan-08 15:51:00
Nobody seen my posts about the detailed product placement sheets for progs like EE then?!

I have read them, but am still none the wiser as to why it is relevant. Are you making the point that there's no way the formula was there by accident?

inamuckingfuddle · 04/01/2008 16:36

pinkcandyfloss I noticed and was appalled, totally agree with hunker and others adn have complained

pinkcandyfloss · 04/01/2008 16:39

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