This was BBC News at pm on Thursday 25th November 2010. When you get past all the depressing news, at about 15 minutes 21 seconds in there is more depressing stuff.
Ed Milibrand, who has recently been criticized for taking paternity leave is shown going back to work, they film a walkaround in Dudley Tescos where he points to a tin of infant formula and says ‘Yeah, this is the formula we use, Aptimil 0-3 months’. The camera then zooms in to the shelves and shows the product very clearly.
Words are about to fail me but irresponsible and unnecessary are two of them. Why do it Ed? It doesn’t matter to me that you are feeding your baby second rate milk but why endorse it on national television? It is vitally important for the future health of the nation that breastfeeding is accepted.
I would like to see Ed Miliband issue a statement to tell the nation that he knows that breastfeeding is best for our children, for their mothers and for the future of our health care system. If more babies were breastfed there would be less illness and less cost to the NHS.
I am sorry but this link no longer works.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/w7f3g/?t=15m21s
You can complain to the BBC here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/process/news?id=RPT0PUU8ASGRQM5J8LU4FAQIOK&uid=318805604
The contact form for the Labour Party is here
http://www2.labour.org.uk/contact
My message to the Labour Party was:
On the 6pm news on BBC TV on the 25th November Ed Milibrand endorsed infant formula. The effects of infant formula are far ranging, from asthma to obesity, heart disease and allergies and lead to a huge cost to the NHS.If more babies were breastfed the health or our nation would be improved radically.
Please could Ed MIlibrand issue a statement to lessen the damage of the promotion of Aptimil 0-3 months by stating that he knows that breastfeeding is best and that there are many help lines for people who are having difficulty.
Lisa Cole
You can also email BBC’s points of view here -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/pov/aps/form.shtml
Ed Milibrand was filmed in Dudley Tescos where he pointed to a tin of infant formula and said ‘Yeah, this is the formula we use, Aptimil 0-3 months’. The camera then zoomed in to the shelves and showed the product very clearly.It is illegal to promote infant formula and irresponsible of the BBC to allow this to be shown.
It is important to the health of the nation that breastfeeding be seen as the norm and endorsements of brands of infant formula undermine the good work of midwives, health visitors and lactation supporters throughout the country.
Please be aware that lives and health depend on the feeding choices that parents make. Infant formula has links to many problems in later life including asthma, obesity, heart disease and allergies. Breastfeeding protects babies from all this and mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast cancer.
This is not just the ranting of the milk mafia, this is important to the health of our nation.
Lisa
www.lactivist.net
Ed Miliband has a facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/edmiliband
This is my comment on there.
Mr Miliband – I am really disappointed to see you endorsing infant formula. Are you not aware that there is a breastfeeding manifesto? Many of your colleagues have signed it with the hope that increased support would help more mothers breastfeed and lessen the cost of medical care for diseases directly related to infant formula such as asthma, obesity, heart disease and allergies. A public figure such as yourself seen naming and pointing out the formula you use on BBC news is unhelpful and irresponsible. Whatever choices you made in feeding your baby are your own business but the health of future generations depends on what they are fed at birth and beyond and you have the power to influence peoples choices. http://www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/
I’ve complained personally and have shared with the group. Many thanks for the links.
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I have complained to both. Am furious. Am glad i didnt see it – my tv would have been smashed
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I was a Formula baby and I’ve suffered no health problems. I get the feeling that implying Formula is ‘unhealthy’ for a child is incorrect. Britain should embrace breast feeding because it is natural. Mr Milliband maybe didn’t notice the implications in his behaviour, but people should have the intelligence to realise that what he chooses to do, and what they do, is indeed a matter of choice. I would be more concerned with the lack of public breast feeding thesedays, and the reasons for this, but that is a social issue, not a political one.
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Complained to the Labour Party:
On the 6pm news on BBC TV on the 25th November Ed Milibrand endorsed the use of infant formula, pointing out which brand he uses for his baby. Whilst Mr Milliband’s personal choices are his own to make (although I pity the poor baby not getting what is best for it in its formative months), it is NOT acceptable to endorse the use of infant formula on national television (advertising of which is banned). Surely this is against Labour Party policy as promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and continuation of breastfeeding until at least 2 (as per W.H.O recommendations) should be the ONLY advice any political party gives on the feeding of infants?
I would love to see a statement from Mr Milliband promoting breastfeeding and stating that the labour party is in favour of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of any infant’s life.
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I’ve complained as well, partly because I completely don’t understand why it was necessary for us to know what kind of formula he uses!
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Pity the child!!! Get a grip. Pity a child that is not being loved or fed.
Comments like the ones above don’t help new mums that are or have struggled with Breastfeeding. There are a whole host of reasons a new mum might not be able to boob feed.
I pity you for having your head so far up your own arse that you can’t see the real world.
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Why why why ….. There was surely no need to do this at all. He must have realised it might prove contentious? Surely product endorsement of any type is a bit silly for someone in his position, and that’s before we even consider what he was endorsing . Great that he took paternity leave though …
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So what, we live in a society where people aren’t allowed choice to feed? Should ff-ers only sneak out under the cover of darkness and hide their milk under a large mac lest anyone sees?
Lets send him to the lactivist millitants to be garrotted for his “shameful” behaviour…..
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I agree with your sentiment and I’m pleased that you’ve written to complain. However, I think that describing formula as ‘second rate milk’ is likely to anger and offend those who choose to use formula for whatever reason. I think your choice of words is likely to alienate rather than encourage potential breastfeeders, which obviously isn’t your aim.
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I meant to add, of course ‘second rate milk’ is technically accurate, but might be counter-productive in trying to encourage breastfeeding.
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I emailed them both as well. Will also do Conservatives as it could be an excellent opportunity for them to endorse breastfeeding at the political expense of Labour.
Will see if I get a reply from any of them.
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Thus giving further food to the thought that watching the news is bad for you!
I can’t believe he has got away with advertising Tesco too! What an idiot!!
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The man is quite simply a moron.
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Fair enough Kirsty, I did write it first thing in the morning so I didn’t choose my words carefully.
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For those of you who are saying ‘OMG, at least the child is being fed’ and what not what you have to remember is the internation code on the marketin and promotion of breast milk substitutes. It is Illegal under this law (which the UK endorse) to promote stage 1 formula. Ed milliband has broken the law.
To add as well, formula milk by definition of what is in it IS unhealthy. It is a processed food substance that contains high levels of known carsinogens(aluminium), unecessary levels of hexane which isn’t suitable for human consumption and cause lead to death in adults let alone infants. It also promotes obesity, diabetes and more. Does that sound healthy to you?
Don’t be so naive that formula is ‘just fine’ far from it! Ed Milliband needs to be pulled up on the fact that he has promoted a 4th rate product that he is NOT allowed to BY LAW to promote!
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It is incorrect to call artificial infant feed “second rate”. According to the World Health Organisation it is FOURTH choice after milk directly from the mother, mother’s milk cup/bottle fed and donor milk cup/bottle fed in that order.
Ed Miliband- what a tit!
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It’s a shame not all Mum’s can breastfeed successfully, for one reason or another.
We shouldn’t be made to feel guilty by people like you shouting the odds and making comments about “second rate milk” if its the only option it doesn’t make us feel good!
Ok so formula shouldn’t be advertised and breast milk promoted, but not at the expense of mothers being made to feel guilty, the first few months of being a new mother is hard enough! People like you should put themselves in others shoes and think about how you’d feel by these and your comments.
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Just ratifies what I’ve always thought about Ed Miliband.
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I agree that Ed has broken the law. Why didn’t he choose clothes or nappies or something (though Pampers I must say have done some questionable things!!) but why is he endorsing formula? OK so some Mums can’t breastfeed but I struggled so much to breastfeed (thrush, poor latch, weight loss, bleeding cracked nipples) and sat bawling my eyes out as the paediatricians gave him formula via a cup in the hospital.
9 months on he has no formula only breastmilk and home cooked food. Things like this seem to encourage the bottle feeding culture when breastfeeding should be the norm not the exception. I do think though some people do give up too easily due to lack of support – there should be more advertising for the support out there! Baby cafe was a lifesaver for me.
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Posted by Kirsty
“I agree with your sentiment and I’m pleased that you’ve written to complain. However, I think that describing formula as ‘second rate milk’ is likely to anger and offend those who choose to use formula for whatever reason. I think your choice of words is likely to alienate rather than encourage potential breastfeeders, which obviously isn’t your aim.”
Why on earth would calling formula “second rate milk” anger and offend people who CHOOSE to use it? If you CHOOSE to feed formula to your child then you have to put up with hearing the facts I’m afraid; that it will mean your child has poorer health and IQ than if they had been breastfed.
Women who HAVE to use formula deserve pity/support/encouragement/commendation/a shoulder to cry on; whatever it is they want or need, and any guilt they have should be purged in favour for action for their own human rights to succeed at breastfeeding. Not only that but they should seek out instruction and support on re-lactation as it is a viable option for breastfeeding a baby that has so far been formula fed.
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As a mum of premature babies who were formula fed before I met them, I am not offended by any comments about how disgusting the recipe of formula is because frankly it is. I had no choice in giving my girls formula, that doesn’t change anything. Formula is horrible. If I was hungry and McDonald’s was the only place I could eat for miles around it wouldn’t change the fact that McDonald’s sells rubbish cleverly disguised as food.
It is a parents choice what they feed their child but it’s against the law to promote formula and a politician (especially one as important as leader of the opposition) shouldn’t be seen to be promoting it or making preferences or whatever. They should either keep out of the subject or promote breastfeeding.
Personally I think they were out and it was probably a little absentminded of him thinking “must remember to pick some up” and verbalising.
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Your link doesn’t work, the one for the actual footage
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If you don’t mind Jill I DO know what it’s like to have breastfeeding start of rocky.
I cup fed my son for 3 weeks with my milk which I HAD to express every 2 hours to keep my supply going. I did this with feirce opposition from HCP’s who were hell bend on me bottle feeding. The diffference with me is I KNOW through and through just how bad formula can potentially be so my choice, regardless of how helpful or unhelpful the staff in my area were, was to make breastfeeding work. There was no alternative in my eyes. If it meant me expressing every single feed for as long as my son wanted human milk, so be it!
It’s too easy to just give in. People did it withought struggle back in the day, if they didn’t the human race would have not got off the ground.
Only 2% of the GLOBAL population can not breastfeed, not 2% of the UK population can breastfeed. Advertising is a very very powerful tool. The advertisement of ANY form of formula undermines womens ability to breastfeed successfully, they help you question whether or not you are providing for your child and so on.
You managed to carry and grow your child for 9 months from your own body, why can’t it provide for the next 12 months?
The fact is though, this is not about how his wife has chosen to feed his child, it’s about that fact that he blatantly violated the WHO code and the bbc are as much to blame because they aired it!
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I have breastfed three babies, each for over a year, and am really pleased I did. It wasn’t without problems and I really believe in it.
However, there are various reasons why people can’t or don’t breastfeed – and not all of them are ‘won’t’.
I believe breastmilk is best, but I also believe in doing what is right for you.
I think, whatever his/his wife’s personal choice, the issue here should be that he, the BBC and Tesco have broken the law by advertising 0-6 months formula. There is a major campaign against Nestle, backed by the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) for the same reason.
This is what should be addressed and a statement and apology, at the least, issued.
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I have written to the BBC reminding them that they are violating the Code by advertising first milk and endorsing a brand of formula milk.
I also suggested they have a quick slot to mention brestfeeding support helplines. They probably wont care but this is a violation and if enough of us complain perhaps theyll at least apologise and put some support numbers on tv.
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First Milks/stage 1 milks are suitable for use for the first 12 months of life. you do NOT need to use follow on milks and toddler milks. They are a gimmick solely designed to bypass the WHO Code!
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Also, complaining to Minister for Health, Press Complaints Commission and your local MP as MPs are not supposed to endorse any brand of anything! Total fail :/
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The fact remains that it is illegal to promote/advertise infant 0-6 months formula milk. Social issue or not, the BBC has a responsibility to ensure that they keep within thy law.
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I’m so over the people that are carrying on with the whole ‘I’m so offended that you are calling formula feeding second rate’ blah blah blah
This blog has been written on facts, and it is simply addressing a very public breach of the law. By a very public person.
This information is facts and figures, and I can’t see this as possibly being ‘counter-productive in trying to encourage breastfeeding.’ its information like this that lets people know that breastfeeding is the biological norm, and formula feeding is NOT and is second rate (at absolute
best)
This is also not saying that ‘So what, we live in a society where people aren’t allowed choice to feed? Should ff-ers only sneak out under the cover of darkness and hide their milk under a large mac lest anyone sees?’ again, this is about the fact that there has been a very public breach of the law.
By a very public person.
Get over yourselves, every time someone promotes breastfeeding (or demotes formula feeding) it is not a personal attack on you. Obviously you feel some kind of guilt for one reason or another and this is your venting process. If you honestly felt that you had done the best for your child (be that trying and failing to breastfeed or choosing formula confidently initially) then you wouldn’t be riddled with guilt
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You total idiots.
Ed Milliband did not ‘promote’ the product, he merely stated a fact: his family use formula milk.
If you fascists can’t take another person’s right to choose, and their freedom to express this, too bad. We live in a democracy. Get used it.
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i sent this to the BBC
at this location http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/11/the_squeezed_muddle.html you will find ED Milliband endorsing APTIMIL formula milk. this is in breach of the World health organisation code of ethics as the BBC have allowed free Advertising and endorsement paid or unpaid by an MP. the WHO code clearly states that you are not allowed to endorse formula as it is not the natural form of feeding a baby, breast-feeding is! The fact the BBC clearly allowed this breach without a second thought is DISGUSTING, not only to the fact that kind on endorsement may lead to people switching formulas without medical advice but the fact that some one in ED’s position claims to be supporting breastfeeding as this is the ethical thing that the government promote through the NHS and the Advertising standards agency following WHO codes of ethics. Are the BBC so insensitive to the fact that some mothers struggle on their breastfeeding journey, any endorsement especially by such a high profile figure in the public eye is detrimental, not only to his own image but the nations health at large. Are the BBC not aware of the fact that this was highly insensitive and lacking in ethical behaviour and clearly in breach of WHO guidelines? Do the BBC not realise such endorsements reach a world wide BBC audience and in some countries that receive BBC transmissions, do not have the sanitary water to safely formula feed their children? Please be aware that I am so Angry that you could flout this that the person who allowed this to air should be made to understand the gravity of what was allowed to air as should ED Milliband! I wish to see a full retraction and formal apology by the BBC at this violation and insensitivity towards women as a whole. I do hope in future you will present Breastfeeding in a positive light. and that unthinking MP’s statements will be edited, in future to stop this rubbish being aired on international television!! Jay Stewart interpresdesigns@googlemail.com
to try and stick to the facts as best i could at the end of the day MP’s need to be very careful as this could be him loosing a BF mums vote based on 10 mins of news. a sad day indeed.
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By him stating that he uses this product IS promotion!
And ‘us’ fascists are simply using OUR ‘freedom to express’ this information on a LACTATION ACTIVIST site! If you don’t like it then get off the site.
Oh, and excuse us for trying to help the world choose the best option for raising our future generations and normalise breastfeeding. I bet you your mumma didn’t give you the best start in life did she???
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Jill
November 26, 2010 at 9:03 pm
It’s a shame not all Mum’s can breastfeed successfully, for one reason or another.
We shouldn’t be made to feel guilty by people like you shouting the odds and making comments about “second rate milk” if its the only option it doesn’t make us feel good!
Ok so formula shouldn’t be advertised and breast milk promoted, but not at the expense of mothers being made to feel guilty, the first few months of being a new mother is hard enough! People like you should put themselves in others shoes and think about how you’d feel by these and your comments.
For all those with comments along these lines this has nothing to do with guilt – your feelings are your own – if you know deep down that you tried everything possible to feed your child naturally but without success then why the guilt? you ought to be proud in the knowledge that you exhausted every possible avenue of assistance & support before turning to formula as a last resort!
How a child is fed is not an indication of good/bad parental skills.
Like it or not breast is not best, it is simply the normal biological way to feed a human infant inline with human physiology. Artificial feeding(formula)IS a 4th rate(see WHO)inferior substitute for human milk originally designed for emergency use, not a lifestyle choice. This once ‘medicinal only’ product has since been hijacked & exploited for commercial, corporate gain at the expense of infant/mother health and also to the detriment of the environment.
Here is some interesting research actually funded by (mead johnson)a formula manufacturer on their relentless quest to imitate human milk:
http://www.livescience.com/health/breast-milk-newborn-genes-100522.html
(BTW, I do believe research for improved formulas should continue to aid those that absolutely have to be fed with formula)
Infant feeding & the environment:
Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk
http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/mother_nature.html
The Ecological Impact of Bottle Feeding
http://www.reducepackaging.com/impact-bottlefeeding.html
Recent examples of contaminated formula:
Yummy, aptamil with added spiders
http://community.babycentre.co.uk/photos/tinks78/4455085
Similac recall
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68L4ZI20100922
Cornucopia Institute:
Replacing Mother: Infant Formula Report
http://www.cornucopia.org/2008/01/replacing-mother-infant-formula-report/
http://cornucopia.org/DHA/DHA_FullReport.pdf
http://cornucopia.org/DHA/DHA-Update-2010.pdf
Providing the above links is not about scaremongering or inciting guilt in formula users, it is about providing ‘information’. It may surprise some commenting here that I also used some formula as my son was mixed fed upon my return to work at 6 months, that was 16 years ago before the internet became common place in homes, work places etc. Mothers now have the opportunity to self educate on infant feeding matters via the net and can access many breastfeeding organisations. Knowing what I do now in training as a breastfeeding supporter & self educating via the net & books would I choose to use formula?, only if absolutely necessary as a last resort.
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I think it was unwise of Ed to be promoting Tesco and Aptamil, he is really not very media-savvy for someone who is positioning himself as the next PM.
I also think it is a shame that his behaviour reinforces the ‘default position’ for many new Mums, that ‘everyone uses formula’ and ‘breastfeeding is icky, tricky, and – quite frankly – for wierdos’. Whilst I am saddened that his wife has chosen not to breastfeed, it is their choice, for whatever reason qand chances are their baby will turn out just fine. Going off on one about it doesn’t help promote breastfeeding as something that is socially acceptable, it just puts it firmly back in the territory of wierdos and nutters.
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