Tesco’s new in-store advice program faces criticism for ethical concerns
Cheshunt: Tesco is getting some serious heat for a new program where midwives funded by Danone give advice on infant feeding. This is happening at their store in Hertfordshire, and people are not happy about it.
Critics, including The BMJ, are drawing parallels to the “milk nurses” scandal from the 1970s. Back then, salespeople dressed as nurses pushed formula milk to parents, and it didn’t end well. One midwife even quit the Danone pilot, saying she didn’t want to be linked to a company that breaks ethical codes.
She said, “That was the line I couldn’t cross – women trust me because I am a midwife.” It’s a big deal when trust is on the line, right?
The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, set by the World Health Organization and Unicef, is supposed to keep things in check. It says marketing folks shouldn’t have direct contact with pregnant women or new moms. While the UK has some laws, they don’t cover everything.
Danone UK & Ireland is defending its role, claiming they just want to provide “impartial, nutritional expertise.” They say the branded uniforms aren’t mandatory and are listening to feedback from the trial.
They added that their program helps parents access important info about nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, which is crucial for development. They think having trained professionals in-store is a convenient way for parents to get advice.
A Tesco spokesperson mentioned that this pilot program is meant to offer extra support to parents. They’re wrapping it up at the end of January and will consider customer feedback for future decisions.
Vicky Sibson from First Steps Nutrition Trust pointed out that while Danone isn’t breaking UK laws, they are skirting the International Code. She believes Tesco should rethink its partnership with Danone, especially since many women in the UK want to breastfeed.
She said, “It’s time they took a better look at the baby food aisle.” Sounds like a good idea, right?
