Interesting link for anybody interested in formula company practices

[hunkermunker]

I know there are some of you on here

(Thank you for all emails, btw, you lovely lot - will reply later hopefully. Am fine, don't worry )

I do often wonder Hunker why the threads you post about formula company practices get scant attention sometimes.

I often wonder what I'd do if I couldn't bf ds.

Maybe I'd try to find the least ethically bad formula company if there's such a thing, and hope that ds took to their milk.

Maybe I'd just get whichever formula was the cheapest.

Maybe I'd try a few and see which one he liked.

I really don't know. The two times I've used formula were before I knew much about it, and both were on the recommendations of the nearest HCP at the time.

But being perfectly honest, much as I like to think I'd be a "militant formula feeder" campaigning for independent information about what rather than advertising spiel from the companies concerned, I'm not sure that would happen.

I might be just as likely to avoid threads like this like the plague.

It's a bit like I know I shouldn't shop at Asda (Walmart) for a myriad of reasons, but it's very cheap and as I'm skint I feel to some extent I don't have much choice. So articles about Walmart's dodgy ethics I tend to ignore.

I know that's not a perfect analogy but you know what I mean.

(Please keep posting them though even if not many people are interested, I am!)

I think the Asda analogy is apt Reverse - was thinking something similar myself, and hadn't posted because the power of the multi-nationals (not just formula companies) seems so vast I simply don't know where to start. V depressing.

These updates are appreciated though - it's good to be aware of what's happening. Although I share the doubts of some other posters about points 8 and 9 on that list.

Yep, I think you're right, RTP. I don't know how I'd feel if I hadn't bfed for reasons beyond my control - actually, I do - bloody pissing awful. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the posters on here who have overcome great personal disappointment and proper out-and-out grief over their own bf experience and actively post on threads such as this.

Hunker, So what happens as a result of the Formula companies breaking the WHO code ?

I find it hard to read them as i did not breast feed either DC, and the more i know about breastfeeding, and the more i learn about FF, well ,more specifically , the issues around the manafacture and promotion, it makes me more that i didn;t have MN and didn;t get the right info

that is not me saying anyone is being smug/.rubbing my face in it.. this is absolutely my issue and i know it.

and it means i do my utmost to encourage clients to BF

but more power to you hunker!

I am very, very grateful to posters such as you, Lulu - I can bang on about it as much as I like (and I do, you may have noticed), but I feel there's always a tinge of "she breastfed, what does she know?" to anything I say, even though I do feel I have a pretty good insight into the "issues". Posts such as yours, that say "I ffed, but look, this is really important" - well, they're vital, imo. Thank you (even though saying thank you feels a touch patronising - I do hope you know what I mean!).

Yes, I'm happy with my freely exercised choice to ff - whoever it was that asked, sorry I've forgot! And I don't take personal responsibility for killing lots of African babies if you don't mind. Thanks.

I use Aptamil if you want to give me lots of links about how evil they are, btw.

Oh Chardonnay, nobody is getting at you personally.

no, hunker, i know exactly what you mean

it is important, it is relevant, and i think that women should have the information to make an informed choice about infant feeding.

but whilst HVs, and so called baby gurus , MW, paeds etc can often be woefully misinformed, and baby friendly hospitals offer top ups , and there is not enough support.... there will not be a huge upsurge in women breastfeeding ,i fear. but you have to try don;t you?

am reading the politics of breastfeeding , am

Good for you chardonnay. Did you actually have a point though?

Chardonnay - thing is, you can only really call a choice "freely exercised" if it is made after taking into account the most accurate, up to date, and relevant information.

So these threads/links are actually in the best interest of women who wish to make a decision based on the evidence, rather than on the (mis?)information that formula companies would give out were they allowed to advertise.

thanks for link hunker

can someone explain point 1 to me?

Message withdrawn

Hi Veni Vid... oops sorry, i give up. As I said, I was answering an earlier post from someone. That was my point...?

So ok everyone, based on all the evidence, given that I do ff (cos dd2 is 9mnths now a bit late to change),which brand SHOULD I go for/ have gone for? Which is an ethical brand? Honest question, I AM interested and concerned etc.

anyone?

You're all watching EastEnders to make sure no more SMA in shot aren't you!!??

It's not an easy question chardonnay

Ooh hello VVV.... No, I know it isn't, I'm not being flippant. Just thought u might have come across some useful info.

Anyway, I chose Aptamil just cos my sister used it (she breasfed for 6mnths then changed to ff)... Never even saw an ad or promo for it so I know I personally wasn't influenced by marketing! Is it a bad brand???

Does anyone else think that Aptamil are being, er, selective with the responses to this?

Well, you wouldn't have seen any adverts or promotions for it, what with them being illegal

Snigger. That is a bit, erm, biased I agree!

..meant i didn't see an ad for the follow on milk of course!

Have spent the day thinking about this, and then a lot of what I thought has already been said!

I think that a comparison could be made between formula and medicinal drugs, in that both products should be for the benefit of people rather than the creation of, and may be better off in the hands of an international, publicly funded body, rather than business. That being said, when I was in hospital needing drugs, I took what was given to me, and was grateful that there was a product which made me better (whilst finding the practices of some big drug companies despicable), in the same way when I failed at b'feeding I gave my baby formula and I guess am grateful that it exists (whilst finding the practices of formula companies despicable).