This is a copy of the complaint I sent to the FTC.  I didn't get it sent in
time for WBW but close enough.  It's still WB Month.  I sent a similar
complaint awhile back and never got a response.

Linda Anderegg, RNC, IBCLC, RLC in Chicago  

 

 

Sales rep leaves advertising items at the hospital where I work with infant
formula advertising that is false, misleading, and deceptive. It states that
their formula has ingredients that are in breastmilk. Mothers ask me for
"that formula that has the breastmilk in it". Their latest advertising
gimmick says that their company has the only research that shows that babies
fed their formula have immune systems the same as breastfed babies. This is
absolutely false and there is no research which shows this. Now they are
giving away extra "gifts" to any mother of twins or more. The RN is supposed
to have the mother fill out a form with her information so she can get her
gift. This is a ploy to replace breastfeeding with formula so mom will never
have enough breastmilk to feed her multiples and will have to spend twice as
much as the mother of a single infant on formula. Although our hospital
policy and MD orders say that breastfeeding mothers are not to receive
formula promotional gift packs (diaper bags with formula) it is given to
every nursing mother because the RN thinks the mother "deserves" this free
gift. Does the baby "deserve" to have his health put at risk just because
the RN is acting as the unpaid representative of the formula industry? The
US has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world and one of the
lowest breastfeeding rates. Something must be done to stop the unethical
practice of pushing formula on breastfeeding mothers in the hospital and the
manufacturers' false, misleading, and deceptive claims about their products.


             ***********************************************

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(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html