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The
Internet has grown phenomenally over the past few years.
The number of registered hosts has grown from 10 million
in 1996 to almost 100 million in July 2000.
Mead
Johnson is one of several websites that have special
offers. A printout of a webpage can be used at participating
hospitals to redeem a free Enfamil Peter Rabbit Diaper
Bag that contains formula samples.
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- A photo
of a peacefully sleeping baby on the Abbott-Ross website
has the slogan, "You can rest assured... Isomil".
The familiar Ross brown bear also appears on the site.
WEBSITE
MISREPRESENTATIONS AND CLAIMS
Abbott-Ross
makes a comparison between Similac and mothers' milk
by showing a mother and baby with the slogan, "So
close to you" along with pack shots of Similac.
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Meiji
claims its formula can deliver the same growth as
breastmilk. On a question and answer page, Meiji
advises a mother whose four-month old mix-fed daughter
apparently "doesn't like breastmilk" that
it is okay for her gradually to switch to giving
only formula milk.
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Morinaga's
website, meanwhile, claims its formula milks are
similar to breastmilk and says that it contains
an added protein found in colostrum that fights
infection. The company's page on breastfeeding suggests
a complicated procedure, advising mothers to weigh
their babies before and after each feed, wash their
hands, clean around the nipple and placing limits
on how long the baby should feed on each side. Elsewhere
the company gives deceptive indicators of "lack
of breastmilk" and suggests feeding schedules
for mixed feeding.
DISCLAIMING
LIABILITY
Nestlé
Carnation, Freegifts4kids, Kidsgrowth and Abbott-Ross'
Similac websites direct visitors from outside the USA
to a webpage informing them of the existence of the
Code, in an attempt to relinquish the companies of responsibility
for their websites' Code compliance. Because the company's
website can be accessed around the world, the disclaimer
is intended to protect the company in countries where,
unlike the USA, baby food promotion is prohibited by
law.
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