Petition · past parliament

Make all infant formula packaging plain and display clear health warnings.

Closed 336 signatures

What the petition asks

According to a recent study published in The Lancet, the U.K. has the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. Breastfeeding is by far the healthier choice for mother and baby. However, currently health warnings are portrayed as "benefits of breastfeeding" rather than risks of artificial feeding.
Formula companies spend a vast amount of money on making their product attractive to consumers and this aggressive marketing undermines a woman's ability to breastfeed. Switching from breastfeeding to formula puts a greater strain on an already stretched NHS as it increases the risk of diarrhoea, obesity, and ear and lung infections to name but a few. The Lancet states that "from tobacco, to sugar, to formula milk, the most vulnerable suffer when commercial interests collide with public health."

Timeline

23 May 2016 Petition opened for signatures
23 Nov 2016 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 336
Status Closed
Opened 23 May 2016
Closed 23 Nov 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.