<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

[...]
> 4. Since Medela is a manufacturer and distributor of products - bottles
> and nipples - that come under the scope of the Code, they may not seek
> contact (Article 5.5) direct or indirect with pregnant women or wit
> h 
> mothers of infants and young children. Their recent contest giving away
> of glass bottles and their offer to sign up mothers for more give aways
> violates the Code

I have another datapoint to add. 

Dated April 15, 2009, a site called bbrnauction09 (Baby Fair Silent
Auction) is offering a "diaper bag" donated by Medela.

<http://bbrnauction09.blogspot.com/2009/04/medela-nursing-products-and-d
iaper-bag.html>


The prize is listed as follows:

Diaper Bag
Glass Bottles
Cleaning Wipes
Feeding Set 
Nursing Pads

(The Medela "Feeding Set" contains bottles and teats.) Perhaps they are
trying to escape the "giveaway" designation by offering this for a
promotional silent auction, but the bottom line is that this product,
within the scope of the Code, is being given away as a promotional item,
to gain free advertising from a site aimed at expecting and new parents.

The "auction" is advertised as follows:

"You are able to get excellent deals on items you would'nt otherwise be
able to afford!  There are always the coolest new items for you to check
out... pregnancy & baby stuff is so fun!". 

Proceeds support a baby fair based at bbrn.org, which is run by "Birth
and Baby Resource Network of San Luis Obispo Country". This organisation
describes itself thus:

"The Birth and Baby Resource Network is a non-profit,
comunity based, volunteer organization that helps educate, empower and
support childbearing women and their families during pregnancy, birth
and early parenting."  Their homepage suggests an emphasis on natural
birth/parenting.

The Medela diaper bag is categorised under "Breastfeeding".

<http://bbrnauction09.blogspot.com/search/label/Breastfeeding>

The fact that Medela seem to be moving into the bottle-stocked diaper
bag market is very worrying to me.

I'd be interested to hear more informed opinions on whether this is
definitely a violation.

Lara Hopkins 

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