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Original poster

Reduced price formula.

28 replies

SoupDragon · 21/04/2005 09:49

I've just told my local Waitrose that the reduced formula (short date) they had in their bargain bin was illegal. Very please to say they went to deal with it immediately and to talk to the staff in that area. I've never seen it reduced in shops around here before.

OP posts:
swiperfox · 21/04/2005 09:52

How come it's illegal?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 21/04/2005 09:55

The same reason that you can't use money off vouchers to purchase infant milk - it's illegal to sell it at a reduced price as this counts as an inducement to buy (or something along those lines). It counts as promoting infant formula milk.

OP posts:
anchovies · 21/04/2005 09:57

Didn't know that. I've bought reduced battered sma cartons loads of times from my local tesco.

compo · 21/04/2005 09:58

I think they can reduce the price of follow on milk. When you see the SMA adverts they only promote the follow-on, never sma gold as that can be given to newborns

anchovies · 21/04/2005 09:59

That explains it then compo!

compo · 21/04/2005 10:01

previous thread here if anyone is interested

lunavix · 21/04/2005 10:03

Tescos had reduced formula - Cow and Gate have repackaged their stuff and they sold ALL the old stuff for £2.99. Snapped up!

Original poster
SoupDragon · 21/04/2005 10:06

Yes, follow on is OK, infant milk is not. Tescos were breaking the law and I'm pretty sure they could have been fined for it.

OP posts:
lunavix · 21/04/2005 10:08

Hmm it was normal and followon. Didn't get any myself, ds on cows milk.

colditz · 21/04/2005 10:08

It's probably some 17 year old YTS lad who hasn't got a clue what goes where, TBH. I had no idea it was illegal either, my Tesco regularly sells infant milk reduced. I might see if I can squeeze some vouchers out of them next time I see it!

swiperfox · 21/04/2005 10:09

Thats ridiculous!!!!!! I've always wondered why formula is discounted from vouchers and boots card points etc.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 21/04/2005 10:10

Why is it ridiculous?

OP posts:
lunavix · 21/04/2005 10:11

Well it is a bit silly. At the end of the day regardless of whether a tub is £3 or £7 it will still cost more than breast milk. And besides, what about the people that can't breastfeed? They won't be swayed by cheaper prices - they have no choice.

colditz · 21/04/2005 10:14

Personally I think if someone is going to buy formula, they are going to buy it anyway, so they might as well sell the discounted milk.

It does strike me as rather patronising that somebody out there thinks our entire baby-feeding method and philosophy might be swayed by a couple of quid off formula. We were skint as skint could be when I had ds, but £2 would not have persuaded me what to do for my child.

swiperfox · 21/04/2005 10:15

Exactly for the reasons Lunavix just gave. Just because some people use formula doesn't mean it should be illegal to reduce it so it isn't deemed as 'promoting' using formula!!

That's the silliest thing I've heard in ages!!

lunavix · 21/04/2005 10:16

Why don't they ban reduced price chocolate and crisps? So fat people aren't swayed by the cheaper prices??

Original poster
SoupDragon · 21/04/2005 10:17

I'm not going to argue breast v bottle, that's not what this is about so the "people who can't breastfeed" don't come into it.

The fact is that it is illegal to advertise/promote/reduce "breast milk substitutes" which means infant formula for under 6 months. It's not ridiculous at all really. The selling of short date stuff might seem a bit odd but the point is that reducing the price of formula makes it appear cheaper than it really is and to some people this will make a huge difference. The law is mainly aimed at stopping promotional things like "BOGOF" and "buy 2 for £5" type things but short date/ battered packaging gets included int his.

OP posts:
lockets · 21/04/2005 10:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
SoupDragon · 21/04/2005 10:22

OK, I'm going to leave you to get het up about how silly you think it is. Doesn't matter how silly you think it is, fact is the shops aren't allowed to do it.

I'm still happy that I stopped Waitrose from doing something that is illegal. So phthrrrrrrup!

OP posts:
swiperfox · 21/04/2005 10:23

Clinics do sell them cheaper than the shops.

I have to say I'm with Lunavix on this one and the chocoalte comment is bang on!

(Also trying to avoid a breast v bottle argument!!)

wheresmyfroggy · 21/04/2005 10:23

Soupy- I think in fact it is about people who cant breastfeed cos they are the people who have absolutely no choice but to buy formula, so if they are short of money would prob benefit from reduced prices

swiperfox · 21/04/2005 10:24

Clinics do sell them cheaper than the shops.

I have to say I'm with Lunavix on this one and the chocoalte comment is bang on!

(Also trying to avoid a breast v bottle argument!!)

lunavix · 21/04/2005 10:26

Sorry soupdragon I didn't mean to start a breast vs bottle argument. I just feel that these rules - good intentions that they intend - mean that people who HAVE to bottlefeed might benefit from reduced price milk.

colditz · 21/04/2005 10:36

I do think it is silly, but like soupdragon says, it is still illegal and I hate to see supermarkets flouting the law beacase they think they can!

aloha · 21/04/2005 10:38

Good on you Soupy!

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