Do formula coupons violate the WHO code?

[timneh_mom]

I got some in the mail and I have NO idea how... unless Sears gave them my address... but I was at Sears only about a week ago!! I didn't purchase anything from any of the suspect places otherwise and I don't fill out those little cards.

If the coupons violate the WHO code, I am going to mark it "refused" and write why right on it, otherwise I'm going to write "refused" and put it back in the mail. "Coupons" are paid for by the moms who pay full price for it... just like they pay for "free" formula as well.

I'm : : : : : : : that they found out I had a baby... UGH!

[Turkish Kate]

Coupons are a clear violation of Article 5 of the Code and are identified as such. You can read an old version of the Code here. I was unable to find the current version, which was updated to reflect the change in age of introduction to solids from 4 months to 6 months, but I didn't really look very long, either. Someone with more time or with it bookmarked can probably post it.

[nyxx]

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

Coupons are a clear violation of Article 5 of the Code and are identified as such.

but if the industry don't care about the code?

i asked a similar question some months ago:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=594339

because i didn't understand this:

Although the United States voted against the International Code in 1981, thirteen years later the Clinton Administration endorsed the Code in the WHA Resolution of 1994, giving the International Code the support of every Member State of the WHA.
http://www.ibfan.org/english/issue/code01.html

so i'm still wondering if the code is an important thing in the US or not... :

[Turkish Kate]

I would say NOT.

I live in Turkiye, which ratified the code in the very beginning, but we still have direct marketing and those awful "milk maids" in the stores. I think that the WHO Code, while a fabulous document that I would love to see implemented, is just about worthless. The WHO is a bureaucratic organization that exists to research and put out fact sheets and recommendations, but does not have any authority to enforce its findings. Such a pity.

[Momtwice]

Yes, they violate the Code.

Yes, the Code is legally required in part or in whole, in most countries in the world.

No, the Code is not legally required in the United States.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Momtwice

Yes, they violate the Code.

Yes, the Code is legally required in part or in whole, in most countries in the world.

No, the Code is not legally required in the United States.

:

The US has decided not to adopt it.

-Angela

[timneh_mom]

Yep, you know the US... can't do anything to interfere with companies making money, can we!! Who cares who gets hurt?

[angelcat]

I"d just give them to someone unable to breastfeed, or throw them away if I didn't know anyone.

If you have to formula feed, it gets very expensive, and every little bit helps.

[My4Boys]

Or hold on to the coupons temporarily. There are a few people working on a project where we would be able to send all of the free samples and coupons to one or two US politicians. This would make a clear statement to people who may have the power to do something about it.

And, report them to the FTC.

http://www.ftc.gov/


Links to this topic being discused...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=637937

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=655355

[Mavournin]

Originally Posted by angelcat

I"d just give them to someone unable to breastfeed, or throw them away if I didn't know anyone.

If you have to formula feed, it gets very expensive, and every little bit helps.

But giving them away, just like donating free formula, only perpetuates the formula company's power. You think they won't know where those formula coupons were spent and keep directing energy in those areas to hold onto customers? It hurts every other mother around. Formula coupons, IMO are for the recycle bin only.

[Turkish Kate]

Originally Posted by Momtwice

Yes, they violate the Code.

Yes, the Code is legally required in part or in whole, in most countries in the world.

No, the Code is not legally required in the United States.

Define "legally required" please. I live in a country that did ratify the WHO code from the very beginning. We have more "baby friendly" hospitals than the US, yet we still have blatant violations of the Code all over the place, including direct marketing to consumers, physician endorsement, and "milk maids" strategically positioned in the stores. Who exactly is responsible for enforcing the Code? Not the WHO, that's for sure. If there's somewhere I can report these things and get them stopped, I'd really like to know.

[AstridS]

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

I would say NOT.

I live in Turkiye, which ratified the code in the very beginning, but we still have direct marketing and those awful "milk maids" in the stores. I think that the WHO Code, while a fabulous document that I would love to see implemented, is just about worthless. The WHO is a bureaucratic organization that exists to research and put out fact sheets and recommendations, but does not have any authority to enforce its findings. Such a pity.

I live in Denmark. The code is ratified here and the national health department is enforcing it. I have NEVER seen formula directly marketed anywhere! All that meens is that Nestle is very agressive in their marketing of babycereal and jarred babyfood instead:, but at least they leave babies alone for the first 6 months...
i would say, that it's up to the health department of the countries that has ratified the code, to make sure that it's implemented and that nobody breaks it.

[Momtwice]

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

Define "legally required" please. I live in a country that did ratify the WHO code from the very beginning. We have more "baby friendly" hospitals than the US, yet we still have blatant violations of the Code all over the place, including direct marketing to consumers, physician endorsement, and "milk maids" strategically positioned in the stores. Who exactly is responsible for enforcing the Code? Not the WHO, that's for sure. If there's somewhere I can report these things and get them stopped, I'd really like to know.

Excellent question.

I wonder if Mothering could ask for a follow up article to their article "Putting Babies Before Business" by Simon Barrington-Ward
May-June 1998, no.88 (He was bishop of Coventry and member of the House of Lords (UK) at the time.)

His article said that as of 1998, the USA was one of a minority of countries (9 if I remember right) that had taken no legislative action in making the WHO Code law.

There are advocacy groups that might know if you contact them, such as IBFAN
http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/index2.php?iui=1

INFACT Canada
(web site appears to be down today)

Baby Milk Action
http://www.babymilkaction.org/

[nyxx]

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

Who exactly is responsible for enforcing the Code? Not the WHO, that's for sure. If there's somewhere I can report these things and get them stopped, I'd really like to know.

ask nestlé: :
http://www.babymilk.nestle.com/Who+C...t+WHO+Code.htm

this kind of real-satire and irony is

but seriously... why not? ask them. my english is too bad, otherwise i would do it myself. there's a "ask a question" field on the site. write them a friendly and polite message that you noticed a violation of the code and now want to know where you can complain about it. i'm curious what they'll answer.

[timneh_mom]

Well now I've gotten "free" formula in the mail!! : I brought it to the women's shelter today. I thought about putting it back in the mail, but the shelter happily took it... I think some moms are just going to formula feed no matter how much I send stuff back in the mail. Might as well go to someone in a crisis.

[bdavis337]

If it came bulk mail, it will just end up in the garbage. The PO doesn't return bulkmail, b/c the lower postage rate doesn't accomodate return service, at least that's what my local Postmaster has told me.....

[timneh_mom]

Originally Posted by bdavis337

If it came bulk mail, it will just end up in the garbage. The PO doesn't return bulkmail, b/c the lower postage rate doesn't accomodate return service, at least that's what my local Postmaster has told me.....

I didn't check the box and now it's at the shelter, but yeah, it probably was bulk mail. It was nice to feel like I was helping someone (the shelter lady was VERY VERY appreciative!) and it was nicer than fighting with the post office. Plus, because it was a donation, I had to fill out a form declaring its value, and I had to ask how much a can of formula costs. I put that down so now we have a little tax deduction for next year... courtesy of Similac. Still : though.

I still want to know how they knew I had a baby. I bet it was Sears. : : :

[mommyddeville]

Shelters definitely appreciate it. I'm a foster mom and love it when someone gives me formula samples. I BF my own babies, but have to feed formula to foster babies. It's sure expensive stuff!