NESTLÉ POSITION ON HYPOALLERGENIC INFANT FORMULA
Response to Baby Milk Action (BMA) website press release of 28th July 2004 - Nestlé reported to UK ASA re: marketing of 'hypoallergenic' infant formula.
September 2004
Nestlé UK, in August/September 2002, made available NAN HA infant formula in the UK. BMA and some other health and consumer organisations wrote to the Minister of Public Health challenging the legality of the claim of "HA" and "hypoallergenic" made on the NAN Starter and Follow On labels. Subsequently, BMA, in their Issue 32, December 2002, stated that they had been informed that regarding this claim "The Minister doesn't think there is a viable case for legal action at this time".
Now, in July 2004, once again BMA have complained to the ASA on this same claim - which had been previously accepted by the Ministry of Health. Besides, BMA also allege that the warning that NAN HA should not be used to feed infants allergic to cows' milk is not carried either on the tin or in the educational material given to Health Care Professionals. This is surprising as the warning is very clearly printed, both on the tin and in the information to Health Care Professionals as clearly shown on the lid of the tins and educational material provided.
Further BMA also complain about the advertisement of Nan HA that appeared in the British Journal of Midwifery, July 2004, and the information carried in it. The UK law specifically permits the publishing of any advertisement for an infant formula "in a publication specialising in baby care and distributed only through the health care system".
The British Journal of Midwifery is such a publication and as such it is baffling as to why a complaint is made about an issue that complies with the law.
Nestlé, in labelling its products and in providing information to Health Care Professional's, always endeavours to do so bearing in mind the principles and aims of the WHO code and the UK legislation.
