Facebook and the Question of Baby Milk

You can’t sell a breast-pump, but you can sell prescription formula.

Facebook doesn’t allow the sale of used breast-pumps which I could understand, if they didn’t allow the sale of second hand Tommee Tippee prep machines, used bottles and teats, discounted first formula or the sale of specialist formulas which are likely to have been obtained on prescription.

Aside from the obvious double standards here I can’t help but worry about the hazards posed to babies who are fed formula milk from these products.

Second hand prep machines can get mouldy, especially if not used correctly, bottle teats can build up bacterial bio-films which are hard to clean (hence teats should be regularly replaced), it is illegal to discount first formula and buying it via the second hand market also opens parents up to other risks. Formula is sold or passed on marketplace which is opened, an obvious contamination risk. Formula milk could also be tampered with, it could be cut with other substances to sell it on for a profit. In some parts of the world we see fake formula. We’ve also seen contaminated batches of milk withdrawn from sale. Any of these things could end up on the second hand market. It is also no small thing to sell on or give away prescription formula. Babies could end up being fed specialist milks inappropriately and also- this is illegal practice. Baby milk is a regulated product for a reason.

The consequences of allowing this to continue could be devastating for families and babies. Time for a re-think?

You can’t sell a breast-pump, but you can sell prescription formula.

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