Hey, hunker! Question about infant formula advertising...

[SoupDragon]

Just doing my Tesco's shop online. In the "baby and toddler" section, the selection of products shown as the title graphics (for want of a better phrase!) are a packet of Pampers nappies, a jar of C&G baby food and a whopping tin of SMA Gold. Which is, I think, a

I think SMA Gold is a 'follow on milk', therefore they are allowed to advertise, as it's for babies over 6 months. What I don't understand is the SMA adverts, although they are advertising SMA Gold, they use tiny tiny babies, suggesting something different... I'm not a BF enthusiast, infact I didn't BF my DS, but I don't see how they can get away with it?

SMA Gold is an infant formula, not a follow on, Jodie.

I am not sure if title graphics are advertising, Soup.

I suspect that its not illegal. Think they would say its for 'illustrative' rather than 'promotional' purposes.

SMA Gold is tiny baby milk though.

Oh right..... I stand corrected, sorry. Well in that case. I'm not sure..

Copy here. I would argue that it is promotion though and I can't imagine that they've displayed branded products without charging the companies (otherwise why use Pampers rather than promote their own nappies?). It's an interesting evasion of the rules anyway.

My Huuby works for a soft drinks company and the Supermarkets do charge them for promotions like BOGOFs etc

That's what I thought - I bet SMA have paid a wad of cash to have that picture of a tin there.

It just leapt out at me when I loaded the page.

I will have a think about this.

I would imagine that if SMA have paid for their pack image to be there, it counts as promotion, and as such, it's illegal.

You can always report it to Baby Feeding Law Group?

hunker - OT: did you see how quickly that Channel 4 request thread was pulled?

I wonder if another one will pop up in media requests.

I do hope she saw my post

I wish they wouldn't go for the freak angle every time. As for boring - yes, because endless oh look a house shall we buy it no let's buy this one has it an attic oh i hope there are antiques we can flog at auction/a car boot sale in it programmes are massively interesting

"Promotion of infant formula in the general media or in shops is against the UK Law. This includes money off promotions, extra reward points or special displays."

Surely this is a "special display"... hmmm. Is the internet "general media" though?

(shame the Wet Nurse thread has gone - it had turned rather amusing )

Perhaps a "Flog It!" spin off called "Nurse It!"?

It's definitely general media, not sure about a special display though.

I've reported the graphics BTW, thanks for the link

Haven't written to my local Waitrose complaining about their reduced cartons yet though...

It's kind of like having a large tin at the entrance to the baby aisle in Tesco's though isn't it?

I suppose, I imagine like someone else said they'll say it was for illustrative purposes, what it depends on is if SMA paid for it isn;t it?

ahem...this won't be a freak show will it

Like I said though, they've used Pampers over their own brand nappies which would also be illustrative so I imagine Pampers paid. Also, a tin of follow on would also be illustrative and completely legal. It strikes me that it's a bit of a loophole really.