According to the 79-page decision (jugement) from the
Superior Court of Canada, Province of Quebec, District of
Montreal, No. 500-05-007 439-944 of 15 March 1995, annual
infant formula sales in the Province are about US$32 million
per year (compared with nearly US$100 million in Canada
overall). Some 92 000 babies are born there annually, and it
is reported that 80% of mothers who feed artificially use at
*home* the brand of infant formula their babies were started
on in a *maternity service*. Manufacturers actively vie for
the privilege of providing *free* formula which,
cumulatively, is said to represent but 2% of the Province's
total annual market. Producers also, the decision goes on to
say, offer financial assistance to development and
paediatric research programmes, from which the hospitals in
question benefit. Thus, for example, the market leader alone
(40% share), is said to contribute this way about US$726 000
annually.
Jim Akre, Nutrition unit, WHO, Geneva
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