Still being subjected to the cow and gate ad.

[LookingForwardToSummer]

Grrrrr. It's so annoying! Is there nothing we can do?

I'm also waiting for response to my complaint to ASA - I suspect they've had a lot, which will help. It's the only time I've ever complained about something on TV...

This is a guess only - but I would guess that they had to put handles on the cup so they could claim that it was for a baby older than 6 months.

As I say, as guess only.

This is probably completely irrelevant now but someone was asking about VAT.

Baby formula is zero rated for VAT - so it's not as if the Government is raking in millions of VAT on the product. Now that really would be interesting!

FYI - things like baby wipes, nappies, nappy bags are standard rated (17.5%).

Car seats are reduced rate (5%).

Thanks, hf. How about bottles, teats, sterilisers, etc?

And actually, what about breast pads, nursing bras, etc?

All standard rated.

Sanitary products are reduced rate.

Virtually all food is zero-rated (not restaurant food).

True (in the main)! Hot take away food and drink is standard rated. And cat and dog food!

VAT is a nightmare - smoothies are standard rated when all it is is fruit.

I was trying to ascertain if there was a political angle.

I'm not saying that the companies ARE providing unbias information, I was saying that there should be a place where there IS information unbias about formula and the different types, what is in them, what they can do iyswim. I am not saying the formula companies are providing unbias information, I'm saying they SHOULD do, to a 3rd party to collate.

hf128219 - As for not raking in profit on VAT, well, no, but I imagine that the formula companies are making a profit and probably subjected to 30% tax on their profits, the government does make money from formula in a round about way

Absolutely Elf. But my thoughts are why should there be VAT on breast feeding paraphenalia? I suppose the Government would argue you can hand express, anything could be used as a breast pad, nursing bras aren't essential etc etc etc.

childrens shoes are reduced rate VAT.

i've put this on another thread too but thought it would be worth repeating it here...

Oh, I'm just so excited - got a press release through from Aptamil today, entitled "Infant milk study holds out the promise of protection from allergy and infection".

I have posted it on my blog if anyone wants to read it....

and then perhaps comment?

Enjoy! I will be here in the bunker with my hard hat on and popcorn

Children's clothes and shoes are zero-rated (up to certain specified sizes)!

thumbwitch, I think that study might just merit it's own thread

thumbwitch did you see my other thread about the New Scientist article? Including discussion of similar scientific 'hopes' ( whose I wonder...?). In the end though the article was pretty good, arguing it will probably neither be practical or indeed possible to ever replicate the full benefits of BM.

this one

Good god is there nothing else u lot can complain about? Am slightly bored of this now YAWN YAWN YAWN!!! There r more important things u could complain about if u want to try making a difference instead of dwelling on about an advert!!!

STARVATION, WAR, NEGLECT, CHILD ABUSE to name a few...

Christ on a bike, YBND, could you BE more rude?!

yb(n)d: millions of babies die every year because they were not breastfed.

add that to your list.

you really are a smart cookie aren't you YBND?

Wilfsell, thanks for the link, must have missed that one before.

LackaD, it probably should get its own thread but then it would also probably be subject to the same level of abuse that has abounded on this thread by people who are DETERMINED to make the discussions about BF vs FF when that is not the point at all.

The research itself is probably okay but since it is almost certainly sponsored by Aptamil, as they will have supplied the immunofortis (TM) for the study, you do have to wonder how biased the results are in the end. After all, results can be moderated to get almost whatever outcome you want - it's all in the data manipulation.

fair point TW.

It is good that this study has a bigger sample of babies than others and the follow up was over a decent period, but yes, anything sponsored by a manufacturer can hardly be described as unbiased.

If this is the case though, then that is a good thing for formula fed babies the world over, but isn't it interesting that this has come out at the same time as heinz's new "better than all the rest and unique" Nurture?

cynical maybe but you are probably absolutely right!

Not being horrible, trying to start a fight, I'm just curious for clarification on this

"millions of babies die every year because they were not breastfed"

Millions? Really? What portion of that is in the "developed" world?

(not starting a fight, genuine question)

As someone who was born and raised in a non-industrialised nation,I find your smug question abhorrent and insulting.

I hope that irregardless of where I was born, that I would care for babies irregardless of where they die.

Yes, it really is millions.

I can never get my head around people saying that it doesn't matter how babies are fed. It matters.