Fellow Lactnetters, 

In response to my post re concerns about the US Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) saying they "did not get involved" when we asked for help to stop the City of Newark and the State of Michigan from partnering with Nestle, Marsha Walker, Chair of the USBC Advocacy Committee posted, (August 1, 2012) that they were working "behind the scenes."  I have some more questions that I am asking questions via Lactnet because the USBC won't answer personal questions and other people might want to ask questions / have answers too.

1.  When the USBC said they did not get involved, we did not give up because their Mission Statement reads: "The mission of the United States Breastfeeding Committee is to improve the Nation's health by working collaboratively to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding".

 When we first contacted the USBC, they said they were unaware of Nestlé's partnerships or their plan to take their program to other cities and states.  We kept lobbying them because of their mandate and because we needed their help to succeed. They basically told us to go away but when we didn't, they said they "were working behind the scenes".  What does that mean?  Why are they so secretive?  Why are they unwilling to help, share any contacts or information? They list, on their site, media responses to breastfeeding issues, (but no response to the media about the Nestle partnerships), actions and public comments, (but again, list nothing about the Nestle partnerships). Why is this? 

2.   The USBC say their 40 partners, (professional, educational and  government organizations) are "like-minded" but are they?  How many of their partners are also partnered with the formula industry and how many of their partners continue to accept sponsorship from the companies? - this despite the US endorsing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. How many of their partners have endorsed the Code? 

On their site they say: "The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) is an independent nonprofit organization that was formed in 1998* in response to the Innocenti Declaration of 1990, of which the United States Agency for International Development was a co-sponsor".

The Innocenti Declaration is based on the Joint WHO / UNICEF Program, "Protect, Promote and Support Breastfeeding" but the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is pushing formula in the Philippines, because "US business suffers when women breastfeed" - 1600 deaths (yearly) are attributed to their actions. See June 20, 2012, http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/local-blogs/off-pat/7136342/Fonterras-genie-in-the-bottle. And in Vietnam, the US Government puts pressure on Vietnam to weaken their formula advertising laws.  See July 18, 2012, http://info.babymilkaction.org/vietnam 

Does the USAID really want US women to breastfeed, or are they, like Nestle, SAYING "breast is best" but have a different agenda?

 The Chair of the USBC is also VP of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly Eat Right). When she is away, her USBC mail, is handled by the Academy.  Nutritionists and dietitians are registered under the Academy.  The Academy's Code of Ethics allows their registrants to work with the formula industry. It is our understanding, that nutritionists and dietitians learn what a lactating mother should eat and that "breast is best" but most, do not learn about the marketing of formula or how to manage lactation (or even that there is nearly always breastfeeding solutions for breastfeeding problems). Nestle, who also says, "breast is best", hires brand new nutrition grads and "trains them" to teach about breastfeeding and nutrition in hospitals, medical schools and communities.  The Academy's website encourages breastfeeding but refers women, having problems, to registered dietitians or their doctors.  Why don't they refer mothers to lactation consultants? Can the Chair of the USBC and the VP of the Academy of Nutritionists and Dietetics, (one and the same person), really wear such opposite hats?

The American Academy of Pediatrics, (AAP) has also (recently 2010) partnered with Nestle.  Is there any mention of this on the USBC's website?  Not that I could find.  Has this important fact been omitted because the AAP is also a partner of the USBC?

I won't even get into the US Division of Agriculture's / Women, Infant and Children Welfare Program (USDA / WIC's) close relationship with the formula industry (also a partner of the USBC).

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC), another partner of the USBC, tells women they should breastfeed but when the Director was asked to send a directive to the Mayor of Newark, (about his partnership with Nestle), he emailed back to say, "the CDC doesn't get involved".  It seems that health decisions in the US are left up to politicians who know nothing about health but are influenced by money and the word "free".  

3.  Goal B of the USBC is to "Reduce marketing that undermines optimal breastfeeding".  
Again, could they please be transparent and explain what they are doing? After 6 months of working in the trenches, haven't the USBC got anything more to say than "we encourage individual advocates to take action according to their personal conscience and interests".

Shouldn't all of us, who want to protect breastfeeding, work together?   If the USBC are being secretive because they are trying to work with Nestle, I would suggest they give up that idea.  Nestle CEO, Peter Brabeck -Letmathe does nothing more than thumb his nose when asked to comply with the Int. Code.  His only focus and his promise to his investors, is to increase Nestlé's profits - he does what ever he wants to meet that goal.

I have known Marsha Walker for many years.  She likely knows more about marketing than anyone in the US and she prepares and publishes excellent materials but unfortunately her information doesn't get out to the public. Are her hands tied?  Is she not allowed to let the media (and the women on the streets of Newark and Michigan) know what is going on? Is she compromised in what she can do / say because she might offend a partner of the USBC? Under pressure, Marsha was allowed to let USBC partners know about Nestlé's partnerships but Lactnetters contacted us, asking what was being done to stop Nestle.  Shouldn't it have been the USBC giving them this information?

While the USBC is "doing things behind the scenes" the marketing of formula is becoming even more aggressive.  Are some of the USBC's partners hiding under the breastfeeding umbrella, to make it seem like they care whether women succeed but meanwhile have a different agenda?

To the individual people, organizations and media, who have supported the "Say No to Nestle" campaign. we offer a big thank you.

Sincerely, Renee (in Vancouver, Canada)


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