Should formula milk advertising be completely illegal

[Reallytired]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6933188.stm

I think so. Mums who need to use formula, are better off getting advice from health professionals rather than advertising.

Fio, that's shite I remember you posting saying there was a lot of support in your area - you must feel very let down

Is there a Baby Cafe near you?

Are there any NCT classes that concentrate solely on bfing near you? You could try emailing your local branch?

Hunker are you always this aggressive?

Where have I been aggressive, LV? I'm asking questions about things that interest me. I'm the one who's been called a liar!

Hunker - i would guess that its so they can steer the woman towards formula.

In much the same way that a vitamin manufacturer might, under the guise of nutritional information, steer people towards their product.

In both cases it is disingenuous and cynical, but it does not alter the fact that both are very valid products.

Companies are there to make money - i never thought the the formula companies exist because they are bleeding hearts.

(and thats only cos yu've asked m a direct question - i really am gone!)

Personally i dont think formula feeding should be encouraged, particularly in advertising. Teenage girls watch tv and will think "oh its ok, its everywhere, and everyone does it,why bother breatfeeding?"

Personally i would never FF a child of mine, i think Fmilk is full of crap/additives/fish eyes and not the best for your child. Advertising this crap is only stating that its ok to feed children this way, plus making huge profits for nestle etc at the same time.

breastfeeding

Lots of women believe formula is very close to breastmilk. It isn't. Lots of women could breastfeed but don't because for some reason, they believe that formula is as good as or better than breastmilk. It isn't.

This perception is due to inaccurate promotional comms by formula companies. This perception needs to be addressed. Not everyone is well informed or educated. Not everyone even knows where to look for more unbiased information.

Then however a mum chooses to feed her babies, at least she has done with full and accurate information at hand.

Thank you for answering, JV. This is where I have a problem - I don't think "disingenuous and cynical" have any part in infant nutrition. We're talking about the sole substance a vulnerable infant's fed. It's more important than vitamins, shampoo, wrinkle cream - this is why I think that more needs to be done to stop formula companies' promotion of their product.

And yes, I agree, it's a very valid product and women have every right to be able to choose to use it.

Fio, no, I don't think you have to pay - you might need to buy a cup of tea though Hope you get some good news from the NCT as well. Glad you'll have your mum staying - that'll help. And post on MN too, obv!

Agree with Winkywinkola, you should know the hard facts before you use FF.

I never ever believed formular milk was anything close to breast milk, and I find it worrying that some do. I remember feeling guilty and embarrassed at bottle feeding in front of other mothers, even friends but we do need to remember its not poison.
That said I suppport hunker and co with regards to bfing.

I've said it before I know but it's important.

Nobody says FF is the same as BF. This is what it says on my SMA tin:

"Breast feeding is best for babies, SMA infant milks are used when mothers do not breast feed. You should always seek the advice of doctor, midwife health visitor of the need for and proper use of infant milks and infant feeding"

I would just like all women to have access to decent, impartial, easily-accessible information with regards to infant nutrition.

It's not as simple as "I found out all I need to know and anyone who doesn't doesn't care".

There are lots of reasons a woman won't research feeding choices - from trusting her mum/sister/aunt/friend's choice and making the same for herself to not having the language skills to be able to do so. As I said, by posting on MN, you are by definition able to access written information. Many women can't and so trust word of mouth or the healthcare professionals who are meant to be supporting them.

And if you can't read, LV? Or can't read English? LOADS of women in this country can't.

Hunker it doesnt say in any language that SMA is as good as breast milk

Well, no, but it could say "Little green aliens are coming to get you as you sleep tonight" - if you can't read, or you can't read English, it has the same meaning for you.

So the fact that SMA prints something they statutorily have to put on their tins doesn't do much for me, I'm afraid. It's in small letters, round the back, iirc. And there's some meaningless guff on there about prebiotics and breastmilk that stops just short of telling you it's the same thing, I think - or that might be on the Cow & Gate tin, I can't remember. I had a squiz at them the other day in Boots.

Wulfricsmummy, that's a good point too re breastmilk after six months. SO many times on here I've read women telling stories of doctors and HVs who tell them there's no point breastfeeding after six months - heck, a GP did it to me! Told me I should feed for six months "if I must" but anything after that was pointless.

Also, I know many women who have been told by their midwife/HV that Aptimil is the best formula. It's said on here, time and time again. It may well be, but there's no way of knowing, because there's been no published research - and anyway, what's the best formula for one baby might not be right for another baby - or it might all be the same - there's literally no way to tell.

And it was only recently they started putting that notice about breast is best on the formula packaging. It'll take a long time for the message to filter through after decades of marketing.

In my opinion, formula feeding should be illegal altogether, unless medically proven that the mother cant breastfeed, (ie she has no milk or no breasts!!)

C'mon...shoot me down!!

AGBU, that's really unhelpful and unsupportive. Obviously you're entitled to your opinion, but it's not one that will do breastfeeding any good, so it's really counter-productive.

yeah ok, just voicing a humble opinion.

obviously it would put Cow and Gate/Nestle out of business, couldnt have that now, could we?

allgonebellyup, what a strange take you have on things.

BANG!