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Original poster

oops , Just had to tell a manager in Waitrose ...

54 replies

LIZS · 22/09/2006 10:52

... that his basket of reduced SMA Gold was illegal. He was very embarrassed, obviously didn't know and removed it all as I left .

OP posts:
AvaLou · 22/09/2006 13:40

There are some interesting articles here
www.kellymom.com/writings/bf-numbers.html

lionheart · 22/09/2006 13:42

The British Statistics look pretty woeful, don't they?

lionheart · 22/09/2006 13:47

And actually, kimi, when you mention nappies wrecking the planet I am reminded of the fact that in the hospital where my children were born it is the norm for a rep from one of the disposable nappy companies to call round to see you after the baby is born. They offer three weeks worth of free nappies if you participate in their research (basically, the nappies they give you are all numbered and they collect the wet ones your baby has used at the end of each week). This kind of commercialization on the maternity ward annoyed me no end (aside from the eco question).

LaylaandSethsmum · 22/09/2006 13:47

A quick question is it ok for shops to sell follow on formula as 3 for 2 etc just not the first and second stage formulas?

lionheart · 22/09/2006 13:52

Judging by the link that LIZS posted that would be unacceptable too.

AvaLou · 22/09/2006 13:52

The Bounty packs are in pretty bad taste imo, mine had leaflets for Ventura (enticing new mums to spend thousands on photographs!?) , various jarred baby foods, sample nappies and formula, health and life insurance brochures, plus samples of skincare/bath products that were full of chemicals.
It's scary how we are targeted like this, but it permeates all aspects of life these days I suppose. I was amazed at the targeted junk mail I got after having DD as I am careful not to sign up to mailing lists etc, there must be some database somewhere that had my due date, and knows my childrens ages which is just wrong.

AvaLou · 22/09/2006 13:54

They can put any formula targetted for 6m + on offer.

nickiey · 22/09/2006 13:55

I think my point is tho that if you make the choice to breast feed you are very unlikely to be enticed by cheap formula, perhaps in third world countries where formula is pushed as better nutrition (and arguably is when you take poordiet/starvation into account)but in the uk the mother who breast feeds is highly unlikely to purchase cheap formula because of the reduction in price. And even when you take extra food for a breast feeding mum into account it is still way cheaper than bottle feeding isnt it?

Original poster
LIZS · 22/09/2006 13:55

This was set up, as many end of line, short date, changed packaging type promotions are, to be a spontaneous purchase. In my mind's eye I could see breastfeeding mums passing by that basket (positioned near the cash points) thinking on seeing vastly reduced boxes of premeasured SMA Gold," oh how handy for when we pop out or if I want to go out and miss a feed or for dh/dp to give at night when i'm tired" whereas they probably would just pass by the rows of formula tins in the baby aisle. Fine as an occasional one-off but that is so often just the beginning.

Personally I'm not sure where I stand on general price promotion of infant formula since I rather suspect the whole thing is carefully controlled by manufacturers anyway. I suspect the inconvenience and hassle of making it up is more of a deterrent than the regular cost but they even got around this with Ready Made cartons. The point is though that any promotion , be it posters, ads, high profile positioning or price, is legally wrong whether you believe that is correct or not.

OP posts:
milward · 22/09/2006 13:56

Me to Ladymuck!! - put on 30 kilos in preg - thank goodness that bf uses the lard up!!

Why not reduce bf bras instead!

nickiey · 22/09/2006 13:59

Indeed, but im working my mind around the law here-it seems a bit daft to me but then im a breast feeder who would ever consider a one off formula feed, not that im saying other mum woulf feel the same.
It is against the law to promote it and it is right to pick stores up on it but im not sure i see the point of this law myself.

PrettyCandles · 22/09/2006 13:59

And there are those mums who are contemplating giving up bfing, and bring the date forward because of a special offer on formula.

AvaLou · 22/09/2006 14:00

I was so depressed by the price/ugliness of nursing bras that I made my own. I got some new pretty bras, snipped the strap at the front and sewed on suspender belt clasps. I thought it was genius. There's a definite gap in the market for cheap attractive ones, why can they charge three times more, it makes no sense.

MrsSpoon · 22/09/2006 14:03

I reported my local ASDA once and was rather shocked to discover that in Scotland that means I had to be visited by a Trading Standards Officer! He just turned up, all official with his clipboard!

mrsflowerpot · 22/09/2006 14:04

that is genius AvaLou!

milward · 22/09/2006 14:05

what a super idea avalou - will try it out

kimi · 22/09/2006 14:10

quick avalou paintent it.

AvaLou · 22/09/2006 14:16

Lol, I hope I don't see any of you mumsnetters on dragons den having stolen my idea!?

I made some for my best friend too and she was delighted with them. At first I hacked up my old suspenders, thinking post birth I'd never feel like wearing them again, lol, but second time round I discovered my local haberdashery sells an 8 pack for 99p, hooray!

kimi · 22/09/2006 14:28

going to suggest this to a friend who was having problems with getting nurseing bras,

daisy1999 · 22/09/2006 14:33

pointless law, women make informed choices as to their choice of feeding their babies and I think it's insulting to suggest a woman would change their choices based on a couple of cartons of discounted milk.

anniediv · 22/09/2006 14:35

Agree, daisy99, and fairly irksome, if for whatever reason, you do bottle feed and would love a break from the expense of formula!

MrsSpoon · 22/09/2006 14:37

"pointless law, women make informed choices as to their choice of feeding their babies and I think it's insulting to suggest a woman would change their choices based on a couple of cartons of discounted milk" - not everyone is as savvy as MNetters are!

skerriesmum · 22/09/2006 14:42

I've seen these types of threads before. I recently moved to Canada where the breastfeeding rate is much higher than in Ireland (not sure about the UK) and there are promotions/discounts on baby formula all the time. I don't think price of formula is a major factor; others, like the length of maternity leave, for example, enable women to breastfeed for longer.

Quootiepie · 22/09/2006 14:42

Avalou... how did you keep the strap from dissapearing down your back?

mumfor1standfinaltime · 22/09/2006 15:08

I read the link LIZS but can't find anything in there that says it is illegal to reduce the price of formula milk. I read it as you cannot advertise or promote formula with special offers such as coupons etc.

I read it like this-

For example shops can't make a display at the baby food aisle with huge signs saying 'look at this £1.50 off all formula' (like we see with nappies)
The manufactures of the formula are not allowed to sell the milk to shops at discount prices.

Can someone please tell me if I am missing the point?

I have bought reduced formula in boots, it was a small ready made carton. I had got caught short while out and went to buy some and saw some recuced, so I bought it. (didn't know about these rules) It wasn't being promoted, just next to the other formulas. Surely its more of a waste to throw it away?
If I was thinking of breast feeding Im sure a small carton of reduced milk isn't going to sway me!

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