Jennifer,
You wrote, "In my mind that makes a country like the US accountable not only
to its own citizens, but to all of those citizens in the world who strive to
be like us.  Maybe if our govt had the guts to run an effective marketing
campaign, then what is Western would be breastfeeding."

I agree absolutely that the USA (as well as various European nations) should
be held accountable for the exportation of the infant formula feeding culture
to not only its own citizens but citizens in the world. If the USA followed
the WHO Code of Infant Formula Marketing, an improvement in the world-wide
situation of infant feeding would be improved.

But I disagree that it is our government that does not have the guts to run
an effective marketing campaign.   The government is only doing what the
majority of Americans accept.  Accept is the key word.  From the beginning, this
breastfeeding marketing campaign was muted--"risks of not breastfeeding."  What
kind of positive campaign is that?  Where is the guts of breastfeeding
advocates?  It is the risks of infant formula that cause these world-wide tragedies.
We have accepted muting the message.  Why?

On this list there has been a long discussion about the ethics of accepting a
booth to promote breastfeeding with Toys R Us.  Yet, where is the ethics
discussion when it comes to US human milk banks advertising for Dannon?  Where is
the ethics discussion in regard to human milk researchers accepting funding
from the infant formula industry?  Where is the discussion on the ethics of
patents on life--Baylor College of Medicine (Texas) owns?  They own the patent on
the human milk component lactoferrin--the real thing not something genetically
engineered.  Can't talk about it?  Why?

In a democracy, the government is the people.  If the people don't have the
guts, the government certainly isn't going to have any.  And, if the government
isn't the people, then you don't have a democracy.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC


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