Guess I'm just cynical then? But remember, to all intents and purposes, formula companies don't want you to breastfeed because it's less money for them. And if you do breastfeed, they want you to at least buy some formula rather than all that tedious pumping.
I can just see a helpful husband coming home with a carton of this- 'look honey, I picked up this special formula for breastfed babies. Now I can do some feeds and you can have some rest.'- not realising that giving formula rather than expressing some feeds will interfere with her supply. After all, they wouldn't make it if it wasn't safe to give baby, and they'd warn you of any possible side effects, wouldn't they?
Or helpful in-laws 'Your milk can't possibly satisfy baby till she's 6 months (yes, my inlaws did say this). Look, there's this new formula for breastfed babies, they wouldn't have made it if it wasn't necessary (following on from the thought that follow on formula is absolutely necessary at 6 months +)'
This is a dangerous thought as many mums worry that their breastmilk isn't enough. For example, a mum came to my local breastfeeding support group, worried that her milk wasn't enough for baby. Baby was 3 months old, I can't remember exactly how much he weighed but he was in 6-9 month clothing (having to roll the sleeves and legs up though!), he is around 2 months younger than Robyn and outweighs her (and she's 75th centile for weight so not small). Does that sound like a baby who's being starved? But I can imagine mum falling into the trap of giving a little supplementation just to be on the safe side, when medically there was no need.
I was reading a thread in baby club yesterday, and the OP's 4 month old baby was refusing the breast, I guess it's fairly common as I have seen a few threads (and started some!) on here about it over the past 7 months. However, in baby club there were a fair few people taking the line of 'stick them on formula, baby's obviously ready to move on, at least you tried, etc' which I found rather sad, as with a bit of work baby could be encouraged to nurse again.
Again, I'm not anti formula. I may sometimes come across that way because I'm determined to EBF, and pro bf statements may sometimes, especially on the internet, come across as anti ff (not my intention). But formula companies just want to sell their product by any means possible, they're not interested in the effect it has on mum and baby. Thank goodness they're not allowed to give free samples in the UK, or advertise formula for babies under 6 months and I hope they're not allowed to advertise products like this either.