SMA Nutrition, the Wyeth-owned infant formula manufacturer, has been fined £26,000 (€36,948) and ordered to pay nearly £35,000 (€49,738) in costs after it was found guilty of illegal advertising in a UK court.

The company was charged with advertising its products in six parenting magazines during 2001.

Infant formula products are subject to strict marketing regulations, prohibiting companies from advertising to the public. In the UK, formula makers are only allowed to market to health workers, although even this is not permitted under WHO codes of practice.

The pro-breastfeeding charity Baby Milk Action said that the case will also affect other baby food companies, including Cow & Gate (Numico) and Heinz/Farley, whose ads were also examined by the court.

Wyeth, the world's number two infant formula maker and a subsidiary of American Home Products, is said to be considering an appeal. The UK infant food market is estimated to be worth £370 million.