>Heather W. Neil reports on the manufacturer of infant formula who advertises
>directly to parents, including publishing their own telephone help service
>(about infant care?) but avoid mentioning the one product they know is
>covered by the advertising ban.
>I believe it is chapter or article 5 in the WHO code which addresses this,
>saying the code forbids any company who manufactures breastmilk substitutes,
>from seeking direct contact with pregnant women or new mothers.  It doesn't
>say the contact has to be a blatant advert for formula.  It says they should
>stay miles away from pregnant women and new mothers.
>Has anyone pursued this as a way to stop the practice?
>Rachel Myr
>Norway


You're right, Rachel....but in the UK we have a law on the promotion
of formula which is the WHO code several times diluted.  The WHO code
has no legal force at all : (

However, even this law can be invoked sometimes. I had a recent
success with a chain of chemists where my local branch was offering
cut price formula. Promotion of formula by offering it at a  discount
is banned under the law, and our local trading standards (the body
that looks after implementation of consumer law) followed through my
complaint and prevented it. At first the shop denied it - but I had
bought a pack, and was able to fax through a photocopy of the pack
and my receipt, to the officer dealing with it : )

HWN

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