Mary
Here are some parts of letters I have written in similar situations.  Feel
free to use these ideas.

In an Alliance for Youth event - where a can of formula was the admission to
the event:
"I know that this was offerred with the best of intentions, and surely there
are babies being fed formula and families who could use a free can of it.
But, unfortunately, this just contributes to the unethical marketing of
artif. baby milks (inf. formula) which is rampant in this country, and which
is in violation of the WHO code, of which the US is a signatory. These
marketing practices serve only the formula companies and have been condemned
worldwide, and in the US too, but are not yet illegal because laws have not
been enacted against them. The AAP is against this and says so in its
landmark 1997 policy statement on bf. This marketing is extremely harmful
because it undermines bf, a baby's birthright. Formula is not a healthy
start and is the cause of numerous serious health problems for babies and
their mothers.  Therefore, I hope you will abandon this practice."
or another letter
"This [giving formula] causes grave concern among health care professionals
who are working to promote and support breastfeeding.  Breastmilk is the
perfect food for babies and provides them with all the nutrition they need
the first six months of life.  It is our Year 2000 goal to increase
breastfeeding rates in this country to 75% of those who initially breastfeed
and 50% of those who continue to breastfeed at six months postpartum.

In 1994, the United States endorsed an international agreement with more
than 160 other countries or territories to support the World Health
Organization International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (WHO
Code), which recommends the following conditions:

No advertising of formula or formula products to the public.
No free samples to mothers.
No promotion of products in health care facilities.
No gifts or personal samples to health workers.
No words or pictures idealizing artificial  feeding, including pictures of
infants on the products.
Information to health workers should be scientific and factual.
All information on artificial feeding, including the labels, should explain
the benefits of breastfeeding, and the costs and hazards  associated with
artificial feeding.

There will always be a demand for artificial baby milk, but by promoting and
encouraging new mothers to feed their babies with any food other than
breastmilk, you are in violation of the WHO Code and advocating substandard
nutrition for babies. I hope that in the future you will make every effort
to observe the WHO Code in your marketing practices.

Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC
BF MEDIAWATCHER
Violet Louisiana, s.e. USA

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