This is a response to several posts responding to my post; I'd like to move
away from this topic and back to the more direct work of helping women with
breastfeeding.

Mead-Johnson admitted to a journalist here last year that there are GM
ingredients in Lipil, which is why it is not being marketed in Europe "yet"
(meaning, until the European Union changes its rules, which could well
happen), since GM things are not allowed.  US corn and soy have a bad name
over here, because it is assumed they are GM.

Martek would love to get their oils into European products, and I bet they
are hoping that the wonderful experience with it in the US will serve as a
good argument for permitting them here too, but at this point they are not
being used as far as I know.  I know that fish oils are used in the
Norwegian formulas that have omega-3 and omega-6.

Lest anyone think I am naive about the cynicism of multinational companies
in putting profits above health, I am well aware of all the cases mentioned
in posts subsequent to my post earlier today.  Each time the manure hits the
fan, it actually helps.  The first oral contraceptive research was done in
Puerto Rico and the exposure of the very gross violations of the rights of
the research participations, led to the drawing up of guidelines for ethical
conduct in health research on human subjects.  The tobacco story is getting
more and more coverage, and whole countries are finally waking up, placing
restrictions on the marketing and use of tobacco that were unthinkable a
half generation ago, at least in rich countries.   The Vioxx scandal is the
biggest one involving a newer drug, but it parallels several other cases in
which the possibility for marketing drugs before they have been adequately
tested, has proven unfortunate, to put it mildly.  It all takes way too
long, of course, but it is happening.  Industry credibility is weakened with
each new case, and consumers are more on guard.  I can promise you the
companies that make these things have whole departments of lawyers who
evaluate the company's vulnerability in relation to any new product.  The
problems arise when a company decides to bank on concealing their knowledge
of the harmful effects of their product rather than not marketing a harmful
product, so as to have a watertight defense when the time comes - and they
do know it will come.  This is why it's a good idea to be aware of the rules
for introducing new things, and to work to tighten up such rules or keep
them stringent when they are already that way.
 
One of the good things that could come out of globalization is the sharing
of this knowledge among consumer groups around the world, so the possibility
of dumping unsafe products in poor countries is limited, but we are not good
enough there yet.

I consider it part of staying up to date as an LC, to know what lines are
being used to sell a given formula at any given time, and to know the rules
pertaining to marketing formula.  Even where I live, where formula is not
advertised directly, it's important to know what is on the packages, and I
spend more time reading formula labels than I do reading the labels on food
I actually buy, because I don't buy a lot of prepared foods and the ones I
do, I know the ingredients almost by heart.

For me, a weekly summary bulletin of the latest developments from the patent
office and on GM ingredients in formula, would be the most effective way to
get the info on patenting of human milk components and related issues.  

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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