So what's the formula for fail?

I've just found out that infant formula cannot be advertised to the public in the UK.

Isn't that weird when you think about it? I can only think of one other non prescription product that cannot be advertised and that's tobacco products.
I'm one of those that kind of find it hard to believe that formula isn't at least just as good as breastmilk, but even if it wasn't, this is a product that you can just go and buy. It's not banned, or only on doctor's orders, it's not dangerous.

And yet I'm reading this legislation, and you'd think it was made mostly of cocaine.


How did we get to this point? What motivates it?
Think what you like about the nutritional benefits or lack of, this is a product for children. If there was a sniff of it being genuinely harmful (and no, I'm not taking into account about hippy breeder's thoughts on the matter- anyone who wants or is a doula* can go fuck themselves in the waterbirth pool thingy) then it would be banned or only used under prescription. [*spell check- Douglas. Lolz]



So what is it? Pure pressure from the titnazis? Or is it something more sinister? More from the unspoken need for women crushing?
Either way, it's a fascinatingly disturbing legislation. 


Plus, bonus crazy- the packaging cannot have the following items on it:

a) any picture of an infant; or
b) any other picture or text which may idealise the use of the product,
but may include graphic representations for easy identification of the product
or for illustrating methods of preparation. 
31. The following are examples of representations which may be
considered to ‘idealise’ the use of infant formula should they feature on infant
formula labelling:
• Pictures of infants, young children or carers (e.g. mothers or fathers).
• Graphics that represent nursing mothers and pregnant women.
• Pictures or text which implies that infant health, happiness or well being, or
the health, happiness and wellbeing of carers, is associated with infant
formula.
• References to infant’s or carer’s emotions.  10
• Baby or child related subjects (e.g. toys, cots or young animals) and
anthropomorphic characters, pictures and logos. 
• Non-mandatory pictures or text which refers, directly or indirectly, to ‘the
ideal method’ of infant feeding. References to such terms would not
comply with regulation 17 (3).

Oh, no, you can't put pictures of a baby on a baby product, you madman. Toys? TOYS? Well, I don't think you should be in advertising at all if you have that kind of reckless attitude. Ha ha, just kidding, of course you're not in advertising. You can barely sell it, the amount of legislation you have to wade through.

Source:  http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/guidancenotes2008amendmar09.pdf (PDF- google The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 2007 for other versions)