Underhand tactics - formula companies

[Rach27]

Well I guess they may have got more visits on the website but what I was basically saying was that I don't think the value of having this discussion could have been undermined by the fact it has drawn attention to the company and, therefore, helped their campaign in any way.

Yeah, there's lots of opinion, some backed up by some interesting links, which I've really enjoyed

 

[Wobbles]

Well I guess they may have got more visits on the website but what I was basically saying was that I don't think the value of having this discussion could have been undermined by the fact it has drawn attention to the company and, therefore, helped their campaign in any way.

Yeah, there's lots of opinion, some backed up by some interesting links, which I;ve really enjoyed

It's does attract curiosity, like most things also I still get the feeling you miss where I stated articles and blogs, this topic is neither of those. Why is it ok for one side of the discussion to say the "power of adverts" but pointing out innocently the attraction to the product built from a discussion (no matter where that discussion is) should be hushed and seen as undermining?

You've definitely taken what I said out of context.

 

[Rach27]

Maybe I have, now I'm not sure!!

I was saying I didn't think it had undermined the discussion as I felt much had been achieved in the process of having it.

 

[Wobbles]

Ohhh I see, I don't think it has undermined the discussion either hun, like I said I have found the discussion quite interesting too there was only one thing that I felt slightly off about but nothing more than slightly ...

All adverts bug me I'd like to watch Emmerdale without interruptions about new toys, tampax, always with wings, formula. McDonalds, supermarket price comparisons etc ...

 

[Rach27]

 

[bubbles123]

Get yourself a freeview/sky plus etc recorder. Then, pause the first 5 mins (10 mins for an hour long programme), make yourself a cuppa, then by the time you sit down you can then fast forward the ad breaks! That's what I do.

 

[KrisKitten]

Adverts wind me up...they always come at the good bits and they always make me want food/drink that we dont have in
Iv always said in regards to FF adverts i dont think they should be stopped neccessarily but i think if there are FF adverts on tv then there should be BF as well...the problem is that you couldnt match the amount due to lack of funding. SO for that reason im glad that there isnt FF advertising but thats it.
Actually what winds me up more that 1st stage formula is follow on, because thats where i see BF mums bullied into stopping after 6 months to match the 'norm'. 1st stage formula says on the box that it is a breastmilk substitute which reinforces a womans decision to BF, but follow on milk doesnt and therefore i personally have had to face a ridiculous amount of conversations where i am asking why i should stop BFing to give my son a BF substitute..."well its not, its follow on"..."yes it is!!"
Thats what formula is, a formula of milk designed to replicate breastmilk as closely as possible! Follow on milk is the bane of my life these days
xxx

 

[Eve]

I wonder how much money the formula companies make...

I also wonder why so many more women today can't breastfeed compared to earlier days... ? Not including the Mums who decide not to for personal reasons... but I rarely hear anyone say they just didn't want to breastfeed, most say they couldn't...

 

[bubbles123]

It's because of a lack of realistic information of what BF is like. Many people I know who say they couldn't usually mean that they think they don't have enough milk because it was never explained to them newborn babies feed constantly, that they cluster feed, go through growth spurts etc. They think that they should just offer the breast every few hours and if that's not enough for baby then they must not have enough milk. And this is not their fault - the NHS is guilty sometimes of painting too rosy a picture of Bf'ing. I guess they don't want to put people off. Also, tongue ties are not properly dealt with in many areas, we have the spectacularly unhelpful 'if it hurts your doing it wrong,' and finally I think many people say they can't because it's more socially acceptable than saying you just didn't want to.

 

[smokey]

I wonder how much money the formula companies make...

I also wonder why so many more women today can't breastfeed compared to earlier days... ? Not including the Mums who decide not to for personal reasons... but I rarely hear anyone say they just didn't want to breastfeed, most say they couldn't...

I dont think its a case of more cant these days as about 40-50 years ago it was the norm to ff because of the stigma attached to bf in public so no one ever realy went to dr's about not being able to as it was mostly assumed that most would just change to ff after the first few weeks.
The attitude was pretty much "I cant get him to latch" "well so what heres a bottle unless you want to spend the next year indoors"

 

[bubbles123]

Oh and re the follow on milk thing... it's weird. I still use first milk (and have no plans to move on) and as soon as LO turned 6 months I got - 'oh you must move to follow on milk!' from all the formula companies whose clubs I'm in. But I buy their products anyway so it makes no difference to them if I buy first or follow on. So Ff'ers get it too!

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

You have to ask the question though. Of course you can buy formula in most supermarkets and as formula IS a product they are bound to advertise in one way or another.

Breast milk however isn't sold as anything. Breastfeeding makes no money and obviously can't be sold or advertised because it doesn't come from one source (But millions all over the world IYKWIM). IF breastfeeding was something that was advertised like formulas would they be offering advice on FF aswell? If so would that make it underhand?

 

[Dopeyjopey]

If anyone ever did advertise a helpline for BF, if the decision was made to switch to formula they would be giving impartial advice as there would be no money to make for them. Therefore, as it would be impartial, there couldn't be any underhand tactics. Unless of course a formula company 'sponsored' them.

 

[JuneBabyBump]

Well, after following this thread for a while I finally have something to add, haha.

I think if a formula company wants to make an ad then they also have to spend that same amount again for an ad for breastfeeding.

And then I would go even further and say that car companies should do the same for walking.

And Macdonalds for educational health and nutrition ads.

etc etc

 

[smokey]

I still stick by my idea of let formula advertise but then they have to pay a portion of there sales in a promotional tax towards decent bf classses, help and advice, education in schools towards bf and promotional adverts.
That way the help is there for the people that truely want it, the government and nhs dont have to pay out for this help and then we can have proper budgets towards helping the people that need and want it

 

[Rach27]

Well, after following this thread for a while I finally have something to add, haha.

I think if a formula company wants to make an ad then they also have to spend that same amount again for an ad for breastfeeding.

And then I would go even further and say that car companies should do the same for walking.

And Macdonalds for educational health and nutrition ads.

etc etc

If the Government taxed their advert spend and then funded a BF campain then maybe but they couldn't really run one themselves without a different agenda IMHO.

Your comparison with cars and McD is interesting and I think McD have actually benefitted from being seen to take an interest in 'healthy' food but imagine Toyota putting an ad in a magazine...

"Running a marathon or just LOVE walking everywhere? Call our fitness helpline!"

 

[JuneBabyBump]

Well, after following this thread for a while I finally have something to add, haha.

I think if a formula company wants to make an ad then they also have to spend that same amount again for an ad for breastfeeding.

And then I would go even further and say that car companies should do the same for walking.

And Macdonalds for educational health and nutrition ads.

etc etc

If the Government taxed their advert spend and then funded a BF campain then maybe but they couldn't really run one themselves without a different agenda IMHO.

Your comparison with cars and McD is interesting and I think McD have actually benefitted from being seen to take an interest in 'healthy' food but imagine Toyota putting an ad in a magazine...

"Running a marathon or just LOVE walking everywhere? Call our fitness helpine!"

lol, yeah that would be funny.

To be more precise, obviously these companies could not do it themselves. They would just pay for it.

Well, I wouldn't mind seeing an ad trying to persuade people to walk to their gym (ironic, no?) or to the bakery. Like maybe even a fun family orientated one. One that also includes the benifits of walking for health and environment. Also for singles. Maybe a girl walks instead of taking car and meets a nice guy. Anyways....

 

[smokey]

Well, after following this thread for a while I finally have something to add, haha.

I think if a formula company wants to make an ad then they also have to spend that same amount again for an ad for breastfeeding.

And then I would go even further and say that car companies should do the same for walking.

And Macdonalds for educational health and nutrition ads.

etc etc

If the Government taxed their advert spend and then funded a BF campain then maybe but they couldn't really run one themselves without a different agenda IMHO.

Your comparison with cars and McD is interesting and I think McD have actually benefitted from being seen to take an interest in 'healthy' food but imagine Toyota putting an ad in a magazine...

"Running a marathon or just LOVE walking everywhere? Call our fitness helpine!"

lol, yeah that would be funny.

To be more precise, obviously these companies could not do it themselves. They would just pay for it.

Well, I wouldn't mind seeing an ad trying to persuade people to walk to their gym (ironic, no?) or to the bakery. Like maybe even a fun family orientated one. One that also includes the benifits of walking for health and environment. Also for singles. Maybe a girl walks instead of taking car and meets a nice guy. Anyways....

Here you are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L84dSVDg5XU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilexk4A9gSE

There was also a london government one about leaving the car behind but I cant find it.

They are everywhere its just that people choose to only pay attention to adverts that they are interested in at the time.

 

[KrisKitten]

It's because of a lack of realistic information of what BF is like. Many people I know who say they couldn't usually mean that they think they don't have enough milk because it was never explained to them newborn babies feed constantly, that they cluster feed, go through growth spurts etc. They think that they should just offer the breast every few hours and if that's not enough for baby then they must not have enough milk. And this is not their fault - the NHS is guilty sometimes of painting too rosy a picture of Bf'ing. I guess they don't want to put people off. Also, tongue ties are not properly dealt with in many areas, we have the spectacularly unhelpful 'if it hurts your doing it wrong,' and finally I think many people say they can't because it's more socially acceptable than saying you just didn't want to.

The other big one is people saying that they ran out of milk at 6 - 8 weeks
Its around then that your supply settles down and so your boobs shrink a bit and arent as solid as they were, babies also usually have a growth spurt around then so begin to feed more and this means all women see is 'empty' feeling breasts and an apparently starving baby.
My HV actually warned me that this was coming at about 4/5 weeks thank god or i would of thought i was empty too and we probably wouldnt be coming up to our 12 month milestone now!

I still stick by my idea of let formula advertise but then they have to pay a portion of there sales in a promotional tax towards decent bf classses, help and advice, education in schools towards bf and promotional adverts.
That way the help is there for the people that truely want it, the government and nhs dont have to pay out for this help and then we can have proper budgets towards helping the people that need and want it

xxx

 

[Vickie]

I grew up in the States and can honestly not remember any FF commercials whether it was because I wasn't looking I dunno?

Here on TLC I see LOADS of Pampers and Gerber commercials but the only FF commercials I've seen have always aired after 9 p.m.? I don't watch much tv during the day now but when I was pregnant I watched loads of those baby shows, been racking my brain all day and again I don't remember seeing any FF commercials during that time. might be a difference of areas as well??

could be. I know I see the Gerber goodstart one a lot... and there was the Enfamil Premium one too, I spoke to a friend and found out I guess it's the US version of A+ here.

Whats Gerber? is it just another formula brand?

Gerber does a lot of baby and toddler foods/snacks, here at least. I've not seen that they do a formula, but different areas do have different formula brands and I don't really know all the brands of formula that are sold in the States