The recent discussion regarding the use of infant formula to fund large scale
crime is certainly cause for concern. So too is the "legal" marketing of
formula. The National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (NABA) has just
published the USA country report on the results of the first ever formal Code
monitoring project in the United States. NABA represents IBFAN in the US and
as such participated along with 13 other countries in monitoring Code
violations prior to, during, and following the summer of 2000. We provided
the US information contained in Breaking the Rules. Our 106 page full color
report entitled, "Selling Out Mothers and Babies:Marketing of Breast Milk
Substitutes in the USA," details an astounding array of Code violations, with
the US health care system identified as the leading marketer of infant
formula. The report looks at the consequences of not breastfeeding, the cost
of infant formula, the tactics used by formula companies to ingratiate
themselves into the workings of maternity units, and full color examples of
the commercial pressure applied to mothers and health professionals to
partially or totally replace breast milk with formula.
The report contains 190 references, the history leading up to the creation of
the Code, an appendix containing the Code and all subsequent relevant
resolutions, an appendix of infant formula and food recalls, and an appendix
of all the state legislation on breastfeeding, and much, much more! The
publication is a landmark in breastfeeding advocacy and is available from
NABA.
We feel this is one of the most important documents to date that exposes the
extent to which formula marketing functions as a barrier to breastfeeding in
the US. Please feel free to contact me for more information or to order your
copies.
Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Executive Director, NABA Research, Education, and Legal Branch
Weston, MA
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
