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.

Its up to the individual if they breastfeed or not. Why should it be illegal? why do some people who breastfeed go on like that for? I usually stay out of things like this but my opinion is if you want to use formula thats excellent and if you want to breastfeed thats also excellent. It wont make you a better mother either way.

Can those of you who think it's fine that it's advertised post on this thread, please?

No, it shouldn't be illegal, it's not poison or evil. More should be done to help women breastfeed and attitudes changed etc but no, making formula illegal to advertise feels wrong, like saying that using it is is wrong and I think that's unfair to the mothers who have no choice.

Hunks, I think it's Ok to advertise formula but not really sure what you want me to post ont eh other thread for? I'm pro breastfeeding, think it's great and wonderfula nd think more should be done to support women who want to etc etc. I just don't think it should be illegal to advertise formula.

I dont see the need for the other thread tbh.

Anyway, have said my piece, i only posted on this thread because i felt it was a step removed from the usual BF V FF debate

Like I said, I think the commercial advertising should be replaced by better non-branded info. Any commercial advert will be geared towards getting you to buy their formula rather than giving you any information about formula in general. That's where it's all wrong. By allowing advertising, you don't get any unbiased information helping you to make an informed choice about something that is very important. By informed choice I don't mean ff or bf, I mean choosing which brand.

With pretty much any other product, it's clear what the benefits etc are.

Yes it should be illegal.
I dont believe that companies should profit out of infant feeding - something that many folk have eloquently put as a necessity.

I'm pro-breastfeeding, but had to formula feed and no I don't think it should be made illegal. Let's not start arguing again. We live in a society that permits freedom of information. And for the record no I didn't use the formula that my mother used I used one that was recommended to me by the hospital that my ds1 (7days old) was admitted to.

Yes, it should be illegal, the current ban is there for very good reasons and formula companies have got round it very successfully by inventing 'follow on' milk. Loophole should be closed asap. (I breastfed and gave the odd bottle, then bottle fed, so no particular personal bias)

Oh and can I pose a question to all those who say it should be made illegal. Are you all successful breastfeeders?

Ali, there are already restrictions on some forms of advertising, as others have pointed out. Freedom of information is fine but when it comes to health issues, that information should be correct and from an unbiased source.

Certainly illegal until they can back up many of the very flimsy claims they make, and research and studies they claim to have done, until they clarify what the ingredients are in their product.

Cant see that happening any time soon though......

Successful? As in never used formula? Because that is a completely different thing.

I use formula with my DD. I also b/fed her for as long as i wished. Ditto my DS.

What's your point ali?

but how many products are advertised which are not 'good' for health and the ingredients of which are hazy and about which flimsy claims are made?
Loads! Should advertising anything along these lines be banned?

Such as flowery?

And are they integral part of infant feeding?

no it shouldn't be illegal. And to compare the advertising of formula with advertising of cigarettes is, quite frankly, insulting to any mother who ff her baby either through choice or necessity.

And imo it's a slippery slope, ban the advertising of formula and before too long the evangelical bf brigade will be campaigning for formula to be banned altogether except in the event of medical necessity.

There are people out there who genuinely believe that every woman could and should breastfeed, and those who believe that formula feeding is tantamount to child abuce.

People have the ability to choose. so if you ban the promotion of formula then imo you should also ban the promotion of bf and let people make up their own minds by doing their own research.

"I dont believe that companies should profit out of infant feeding". so let's also ban any advertising of:
breast pumps, any kind of bottles, breast pads, anything that relates to feeding of babies in any way. The manufacturers of breast pumps do profit from their products as well do they not?

um, junk food, actually lots of food/ drink products, 'miracle' beauty products, diet pills

Fair enough, not about infant feeding, no. I still think advertising it shouldn't be banned though, I don't think it's the advertising that's the problem, and we can't ban advertising for everything which isn't the 'best' thing for our health.

have to go and feed DS his SMA now will be back later to see how this is going

Wannabe you are missing the point of the advertising - the advertisers do not pay money for advertising spots to help poor distressed mums who formula feed. They pay to ensure that all potential parents and helpers of parents (so both mums, dads, grandparents etc) assume that formula is the norm.

"I dont believe that companies should profit out of infant feeding"

How would that work?

ladym isnt that where the heath professional and support should come in? support is needed to promote bf

And junk food is a necessity? Beauty products are a necessity?

What miraculous claims do junk food adverts claim?

"Birdseye chicken nuggets - now even closer to chicken"?

How does what work, meandmy?

on that point VVVQ i totally agree with you. but wasnt that banned a while back or is it still advertised in this way?