Ros you wrote:

"Even time they add another ingredient that they claim brings it closer to
human milk, the cost goes up..."

Yes and the cost not only includes what consumers will pay out of pocket and
the amount of women and infants whose health is damaged (and that cost).  But
the cost psychologically to women and men who buy into the belief the
breastmilk (I'd rather say breastfeeding) can be duplicated.

"By the time they add in the thousands currently missing, who will be able to
afford it?  And why bother?"

I don't think many people understand that the various components of human
milk that are being genetically engineered are partly being used in infant
formula.  They will also be used to fight various diseases, cancer and used
in vaccines.  I would say there may be 200 patents in the US Patent Office
using genetically engineered human milk components for use in prevention and
treatment of diseases and cancers.  There are even some patents using human
lactoferrin to treat and prevent hiv.  They base these patents on studies
that show that lactoferrin inactivates the hiv virus.  Ironic, isn't it, that
the CDC and other health agencies discourage breastfeeding for diagnosed
hiv-positive mothers.  But at the same time we have patents that are using
human lactoferrin to treat and prevent hiv.  Of course the deal is that human
milk is so infectious that mothers shouldn't breastfeed.  But when one looks
into transmission of hiv through breastfeeding one is struck by the fact that
no one really knows what the transmission rate is--20%, 28%, !5%, 60%
?????There is a dearth of understanding in this area.  Then we have the
Coutsaudis study that shows that exclusive breastfeeding looks to be a good
preventative measure against transmission.  But is there any intent on the
powers that be to reproduce these results.  Sure doesn't look like it.  Why?
It makes me think that there are significant monetary interests in
discouraging breastfeeding (as usual).

So Ros, I guess what I am saying is that there is alot more to this genetic
engineering of human milk than just formula.  And it involves billions of
dollars that can be made by various drug and formula companies.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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