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Subject:
From:
Nina Berry <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 6 May 2006 08:18:36 +1000
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>May I have YOUR comments PLEASE?

Royce Anderson, RN, IBCLC, RLC, CD (DONA)<

For an IBCLC, being employed by the formula industry or being required, in
the course of employment, to promote infant formula is a clear conflict of
interest and in contravention of articles 5 and 24 of the Code of Ethics.

"5.  Remain free of conflict of interest while fulfilling the objectives and
maintaining the integrity of the lactation consultant profession.
And
24. IBCLC, RLCs must adhere to those provisions of the International Code of
Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions which
pertain to health workers."

Pragmatically speaking, formula manufacturers are concerned to maximise
formula sales.  Increased formula sales equals decreased breastfeeding
rates. No-one, IBCLC or not, can claim to be supporting mothers' efforts to
breastfeed and also increasing formula sales.  It just doesn't make sense.
Handing out samples, whether in pharmacies, hospitals or wherever, is an act
of promotion designed to increase sales.  (Incidentally so is a photograph
of an RLC on a web page promoting formula.)  Now some will argue that
manufacturers are not seeking to increase formula use generally but only to
increase the market share held by their brand.  While I am not always
comfortable with drawing parallels between formula and tobacco, in the case
of this argument, I think we can say it has a familiar ring and has been
demonstrated to be a lie in that case.  Someone may be aware of some
quantitative research that demonstrates that increased marketing increases
the size of the market not just that particular brand's share -  or maybe
that is still to be done.

Nina Berry BA/Bed(Hons) Dip Arts(Phil)
Breastfeeding Counsellor
PhD Candidate - "Ethical Issues in the marketing of 'Toddler Milks'"

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