Nancy wrote, "Commercialized breastmilk banking and
component preparation may actually be good for breastfeeding in general, as
people can recognize breastmilk as a true economic resource.  There must be
careful controls and input from all facets of the breastfeeding community..."

Yes, the lack of recognition of human milk as an economic resource is very
evident in our society.  Although the truth is that the biotechnologists in
the drug and infant formula industries have already recognized the value of
human milk and have staked their claims of ownership--by patenting human milk
components! The breastfeeding community has already lost control and input in
this endeavor.  I doubt that they ever had any control although they were
"used" for input or will be used to sell the products.

Ms Medo and her company Prolacta (company that is hoping to commercialize
human milk) have already staked their claim on human milk components by
"filing for patents on the creation of a gammagloblin replacement made from
100% human milk products and lactoferrin from human milk, a pharmaceutical
cure for e.coli." see
http://www.pbunlimited.com/elenabio.html

Previously she has dealt with the infant formula industry.  I would suspect
that in order to get the millions in startup funding and the "expertise" in
fortifying human milk she will get assistance from the infant formula
industry.  According to the Washington Post article, her company will be
partly non-profit and partly profit.  One might want to ask how much of the
"donated" human milk will go into a can intended for an infant's ingestion
and how much will go into the pharmaceutical part of her business (the
profit-making part).  By fortifying human milk are we buying into the concept
that human milk isn't just good enough.  We better think twice about this
industry because the infant formula industry (which I believe will be the
true beneficiaries of the commercialization of human milk) have already
profited enormously because of hiv/aids.  Now they know how easy it is to
dissuade societies (both developed and developing countries) from
breastfeeding when breastmilk is portrayed as infectious, contaminated,
death-causing.  The newest interest in environmental contaminants in
breastmilk says that this is the next axe to grind on the general
public--have your milk tested....so sorry its loaded with toxins--don't feel
bad, we have human milk in the can....just as good as the real thing...don't
feel bad....it's just as good.....

The situation is already out of control.   If breastfeeding advocates assume
that one can gain control by joining forces with this industry,  they are
mistaken in that belief.  Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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