Consultation on the panel's draft report on infant formula and follow-on formula and material considered by the review panel
Tuesday 8 September 2009
The independent panel on the controls on infant formula and follow-on formula, is today publishing its draft report along with the reports of the three research projects that were commissioned specifically to support the review.
The panel's findings, conclusions and recommendation are based upon the evidence and information gathered from the results of the research projects and from material submitted by stakeholders in response to the panel's requests. Panel members are asking stakeholders for any comments on the accuracy with which the panel has represented the material they submitted. They are not asking for comments on any other aspects of the report or for any further submissions of information.
Comments should be sent by Friday 2 October 2009 to:
Clare Lowrie
6th floor
Food Standards Agency
Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH
email: clare.lowrie@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
tel: 020 7276 8169
Material considered by the review panel
The panel agreed that the review should consider all available, relevant material and that the information and evidence upon which its conclusions and recommendations were finally based should be robust and able to withstand scrutiny. The panel recognised that, in practice, this requires attention to the quality of the information and evidence including attention to assumptions on which it is based and the limitations to which it is subject. The panel also agreed that, given the likely gaps in the evidence base, it would commission research to help address the specific questions set out in its remit. Ultimately, material considered during the review came from four sources:
- Material submitted by stakeholders - panel members wanted to ensure that they took into account useful material known to stakeholders. Therefore, they twice invited key stakeholders to submit any material they considered relevant to the review. The panel used this material both to inform its consideration of the review’s objective and remit and to provide the background and context for the review. This material is available upon request from Clare Lowrie.
- Research project one – nature of advertising and presentation. Specific research was commissioned to address element (a) of the panel's remit. This project established as far as possible whether the advertising and presentation of infant formula and follow-on formula had changed following introduction of the new controls in 2008. Read the Advertising of infant and follow-on formula report.
- Research project two – effectives of the controls. Specific research was commissioned to address elements (b) and (c) of the panel's remit. This project looked at whether consumers were clear that follow-on formula advertising and presentation relates to formula for older babies and whether infants under six months were being fed follow-on formula. Read the Controls on infant and follow-on formula report and Literature review report.
- Research project three – purchase of follow-on formula. The panel commissioned an analysis of loyalty card data in order to examine, albeit obliquely, whether infants under 6 months of age are being fed follow-on formula. Read the Follow-on Milk Analysis report
Related links
(pdf 199KB) (pdf 648KB)