As a member of the US Breastfeeding Committee's Leadership Team, I am posting
the following summary of events concerning the postponement of the National
Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign here in the US. The USBC is in the process of
requesting a meeting with Secretary of Health Tommy Thompson and organizing a
comprehensive approach to addressing some of the extraordinary behaviors and
events that have been occurring over the past few weeks. The USBC will be
drafting a sample letter for you to use as well as a detailed list of where to send
these letters, including the members of Congress and people at Federal
agencies that were contacted by the formula companies. You may channel your
questions, comments, letters, etc to me and I will do my best along with the US
Breastfeeding Committee to help you respond in an effective manner. Snail mail still
has problems in Washington, so you may wish to use a delivery service,
e-mail, telephone, or fax when you send anything to a Washington, DC office. The
following is a summary prepared by the USBC Chair Amy Spangler:

I would like to share with you recent events concerning the National
Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign.

It appears that the campaign ads were inadvertently posted on the Ad Council
web site in early November.

Shortly thereafter, representatives from the formula industry contacted
executive board members of health professional associations (AAP, AAFP etc.)
and directors of government agencies (NIH, NWA, CDC, etc.) to voice their
concerns regarding the breastfeeding awareness campaign ads. Criticisms
included concerns about the campaign being negative, the campaign being
critical of formula, the campaign making formula-feeders feel guilty, and
there being general disagreement among health professionals regarding the
science behind some of the ads.

It is alleged that industry representatives have contacted members of
Congress as well, targeting individuals responsible for health care policy
and WIC reauthorization.

The NWA upon hearing the concerns of the formula industry elected to present
the ads to a focus group of women. Based upon the comments made by members
of the focus group, NWA has decided to support the campaign.


The President of the AAP has forwarded a letter to Secretary Tommy Thompson
voicing concern about the "negative approach" taken in the campaign and the
risks attached to "making claims that cannot be scientifically validated."
The AAP Section on Breastfeeding was not advised of the AAP's concerns or
given an opportunity to review the letter in question. After reviewing the
letter, Dr. Larry Gartner, Chair of the Section on Breastfeeding, advised
Dr. Joe Sanders, Executive Director of the AAP that the Section on
Breastfeeding felt compelled under the circumstances to write to Secretary
Thompson directly to express a view contrary to that expressed in Dr.
Johnston's letter. A letter from the Section on Breastfeeding was forwarded
to Secretary Thompson today and expresses support for the campaign.

The formula industry has written a letter to the director of the Ad Council
criticizing the campaign.  However the Ad Council is intent on launching the
campaign.

DHHS/OWH was criticized for not informing upper level persons about the
content of the campaign ads and is subsequently meeting with agency
directors in an effort to resolve concerns

A meeting was held with the directors of the CDC, NIH and DHHS. Members of
the CDC and NIH reviewed the science supporting the 6 conditions highlighted
in the ads and determined that the relative risk statements should be
removed from the ads and that those ads highlighting conditions wherein the
science is either new or inconsistent be removed i.e. leukemia, diabetes.

The USBC Leadership Team and Ruth Lawrence held a conference call last night
in an effort to identify an action plan; recommendations follow:

The USBC will write a letter to Secretary Thompson requesting a meeting as
soon as his schedule permits; suggested dates include December 3rd or 4th, 2003.

The USBC will write a letter to the Director of the Ad Council reaffirming
the support of the USBC for the breastfeeding ad campaign.

The USBC will draft a sample letter in support of the ad campaign and
identify a list of individuals to whom the letter should be sent.

The USBC will distribute the sample letter and contact list to all USBC
representatives and alternates. Encourage each representative and alternate to
demonstrate their support for the campaign by contacting as many people on the
list as possible, especially Secretary Thompson.  Encourage each alternate and
representative to contact the members of their organization as well as
everyone they know with an interest in the health of mothers and children
and ask them to send letters, emails, telephone calls, and faxes to members
of the contact list.

You can make a difference!

The Leadership Team will make every effort to provide the sample letter and
contact list within 24 hours or so. We will also include copies of the letters
that are being
sent to Secretary Thompson, DHHS and Peggy Conlon, President of the Ad
Council FYI. Your participation in this effort is most appreciated. I will
keep you informed as events unfold.

Warmly,
Amy

P.S. Tidal waves are made from drop of water!

I will keep all of you up to date as events unfold.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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