On Sun, 7 Dec 2003 05:51:07 EST, Valerie W, McClain <[log in to unmask]> wrote: I have never seen an ad by a particular >infant formula company that compares itself against another infant formula. I >don't watch alot of TV so I may have missed that media. But in print media, I >have never read an ad by an infant formula company that specifically states >that their product is better than another infant formula company's. If you could >point me in the direction of the ads you have seen where this is done, I'd >like to see them. Nestle ABMs have a TV ad (usually during Discovery/TLC's channel's and Discovery Health Channels "Baby Story" or "Birthday" or "Maternity Ward" shows, of course) which talk about their "comfort proteins" and how other "standard formulas" are not "broken down into comfort proteins." (I usually get so upset watching these shows,and the way the laboring mamas are treated, and the LACK of breastfeeding on ALL these Nestle sponsored shows, along with the commercials, that I have to turn it off before I blow a gasket!) They used to say "Breast is best." with no details, but in the short version of the commercial, they don't even do this. >val also said: >>How do you fight industries that makes billions of dollars? THAT is the billion dollar question. I wish we had the money that these companies (along with the dairy industry with which they are aligned) to do the same type of promotions. As well the clout to influence not only news stories, but TV shows like the ones listed above. All of which are decidedly anti-breastfeeding. I have talked to several women who were on these shows and almost all of them were discouraged against breastfeeding on camera. With "we don't want you embarrassed" as the reason. (You just had about 5 pelvics filmed and had your birth talked about and filmed, how could BF now be "embarressing" now?) The few who DID BF for the camera never saw that footage on the final cut. This is the DESIGN of these shows, believe me! Val, you also said you thought the companies were not in competition with each other. I think they are. They do fight for rights to exclusively stock nurseries in hospitals, and they send out MORE free ABM to moms who fill out their forms saying they will BF, as they know mothers who previously BF, and switch to formula will be more brand loyal and also more likely to use ABM for the entire first year. I do think they are in competition with each other, but also in competition with BF. Still fuming and trying to calm down. (At the ABM companies, not at you :)) Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLL, AAPL Private Practice *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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