Alice mentioned the formula ad that she found in People magazine. I
have written both People magazine and the website they own,
www.celebrity-babies.com regarding formula advertising that I have
found in both places. Formula ads have been showing up in greater
numbers in non-parenting magazines and websites, an unfortunate trend
to be sure. Many websites run rotating banner formula ads. I have found
them on cooking websites, clothing websites, even on AOL when I get my
email. Formula ads have become more aggressive not only in the sheer
quantity of ads, the expanded sites where the ads are placed, but also
in their actual language. The text in these ads is deceptive, false,
and misleading-hence the request that the breastfeeding community
inundate the Federal Trade Commission with letters of concern.

This is what I wrote to People magazine. Feel free to use any part of
it that you wish:

Hello,

I was quite dismayed to see advertising for infant formula in your
magazine and on your Celebrity Baby Blog website. As you know, this is
a product that competes unfairly with breastfeeding, something which
many of your profiled celebrities practice. The appearance of infant
formula advertising next to photos of celebrities and their babies
implies that famous people use the product and so should readers of
your magazine and website. The use of infant formula increases the risk
of unhealthy outcomes for infants and mothers, something you would not
wish to promote. The Federal Government and all major health agencies
and organizations recommend breastfeeding as the preferred method of
feeding babies. The Healthy People 2010 health goals for the nation
 from the Department of Health and Human Services specifically targets
the increase of breastfeeding as a public health intervention to reduce
acute and chronic diseases and conditions and as a method of lowering
the expenditure of scarce health care dollars.

As a way to improve the health of your readership and their children,
please consider running pro bono ads for breastfeeding in fairness to a
public health behavior that does not have large amounts of corporate
promotion dollars. Your magazine and website reach millions of women in
their childbearing years who would benefit greatly from your support of
breastfeeding.

Should you wish more information or copies of breastfeeding ads to be
placed in your magazine and on your website, please do not hesitate to
contact me.

Thank you for your time.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Executive Director
National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy

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

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome