The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) published a report on the UK formula industry in February. One of the recommendations it made was that formula should be in ‘plain packaging’ if provided to parents in hospital, so as not to influence their brand choice.
The Guardian reported, ‘The watchdog said parents often chose a brand of formula for their baby at a time when they were vulnerable, often in hospital immediately after birth, when they did not have “clear, accurate and impartial information needed to make informed decisions”.’
I was struck by the description of the fraught context in which parents are choosing formula. I felt the discussion needed more context about what is actually going on here. I wrote the following comment on X, based on my experience and the experiences we hear about every day at IFA.
Continue reading “Formula in Hospital? Let’s Unpack That!”