What do you do with free formula samples?

[SuzyLee]

I am wondering what others do with their free formula.

Last time I refused it at the midwife's office and hospital- trying to make a point although I diubt it made any difference. I am going to be more vocal about refusing them this tiem around. I assume they took my cans and gave them to soemone who was FF'ing.

The ones that came in the mail I dropped off at the grocery's foodbank drop-off.

Has anyone sold them on CL? I see them for sale quite a bit on our local CL. I feel sort of guilty selling them instead of donating... even though we could use the money.

Although I hate the formula co's intrusive and un-ethical advertising I do derive joy out of taking their products for free, and offering them to someone who is already 100% FF'ing.

[leaveit2beeker]

I've seen many, MANY messages on CL from other users claiming that selling formula samples is illegal. However, I do not know for sure if it is. I would just donate it.

[gini1313]

You know, I have never gotten a free sample in the mail... Not sure why.

I brought the first sample home with me from the hospital and it sat in my house while I figured out that I really could breastfeed, then I gave it to charity. I have just refused them since then. I guess if I got any in the mail, I would just donate them...

[annettemarie]

Please keep in mind that MDC is a supporter of the WHO code. You may not advocate selling formula samples or coupons here. Thanks!

[Meredith&Alexander]

I take them to the battered women's shelter. They have so few resources that they won't offer it to women who are nursing, and if a mom gets there and is FFing it's probably not a great time to suggest relactation.

[fawnanddoe]

I got 4 large cans in the mail (I have no idea why, I wouldn't sign up for that stuff) and I donated it to a local pregnancy resource center.

[momtoS]

Would a place with animals take formula? I have no idea...

[songbh]

Originally Posted by SuzyLee

I am wondering what others do with their free formula.

I see formula samples as marketing materials, not as free food.

I choose not to help the formula marketers by circulating their materials for them.

I threw away the formula samples I received in the hospital when my son was born. If I were to receive any formula samples in the mail now, I would "return to sender," requiring the company to pay for the return postage.

Then, to help out poor mothers who use formula, I would write a check to my local food bank or women's shelter. Nonprofits need cash more than cast-offs.

[SubliminalDarkness]

I decided to hang onto them until I came across someone who I felt TRULY needed to use formula. And that ended up being a friend, who was a LLL leader, who was suddenly placed with two foster babies. It took a couple of weeks for her to be set up with WIC and the other programs to pay for the babies' needs, so initially she was buying everything out of pocket. I think I took her somewhere between six and eight sample cans, and I'm sure that was a big help for her. And I had no guilt about doing it, either, because that was a case of absolutely true need.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by krisperkrunch

throw them out! lest they harm another child!

Please keep in mind that it is not the purpose of the Lactivism forum to slam formula. We have a fair few mothers here who use formula and I am sure they don't consider feeding their child to be harmful.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by krisperkrunch

throw them out! lest they harm another child!

Plus, there are many moms who have already made that choice or were forced to use it and throwing it away to be spiteful is terrible.

It's like throwing away a Happy Meal instead of giving it to a homeless person because it's not "good for them".

[annettemarie]

Well, I don't know that throwing it away is necessarily "spiteful and terrible" either. 4 kids in, I start to get REALLY resentful that the formula company decides to send me samples, and all of a sudden it becomes my responsible to decide the most ethical way to dispose of them.

But we're just not going to host formula bashing.

[Youngfrankenstein]

I just can't see throwing away perfectly good food. I do donate clothes, toys, etc on a regular basis to a shelter so it's very easy for me to put that stuff in with the other.

I never have taken the free samples from the hospital and now that we're having a homebirth, I hope to avoid it all together.

It's just so expensive for people, I hate to throw it out.

[AFWife]

I got a free can in the mail...I also didn't sign up for it.

MIL knew a mentally disabled (is that the right way to put it?) girl that got pregnant and wouldn't be BFing. I gave it to her because I know formula is expensive...I also gave her all the disposable diapers that I wasn't going to use.


Even if you don't agree with it (formula) someone can use it and would be very grateful to not have to spend that money.

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Sitting in the cabinet. Probably to be used next March when I have to go away for training courses for work.

[sehbub]

I've donated it when we've received it in the past. Having had three formula fed kids, I know just how expensive that stuff can be, and while I hate to give anyone the "easy" way out, I also know that if someone had donated some to US when we had to use it, it would have been a lifesaver!

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Youngfrankenstein

I just can't see throwing away perfectly good food. I do donate clothes, toys, etc on a regular basis to a shelter so it's very easy for me to put that stuff in with the other.

I never have taken the free samples from the hospital and now that we're having a homebirth, I hope to avoid it all together.

It's just so expensive for people, I hate to throw it out.

Yeah, I know. I give it to a local organization called Shepherd of the Streets. But I really wouldn't fault someone who didn't feel like it should be their responsibility to deal with it, either.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I threw them out.

[CHoney]

I gave them to the food bank.

As a side note, I couldn't believe how expensive my sample was until I looked at the store!!! It was over $40 for the box of formula they sent!!!

[jeminijad]

I donate or give to FFing moms that I know.

Having known personally of a baby who was fed watered down formula b/c the mom couldn't afford enough cans for the month, I am not going to throw away calories that could be filling the belly of some helpless infant. It proves nothing.