.... or why I am probably high up on the formula company's hit list!!
I never miss an opportunity to inform moms about the false advertising they
will be exposed to, in magazines, radio ads, tv ads, and even from their
doctors and HCP's.
I start with my daily lecture in the hospital ( about an average of 30 moms
each day). One company, the one which dominates in our hospital, uses the
word "scientific" about 12 times in their ads. I mention to the moms that
the only thing that has been proved "scientifically" is that babies who are
not breastfed are sick more often, are hospitalized more often, need more
antibiotics, and have a lower IQ. I also add that the companies that
manufacture the artificial milk are also the ones that manufacture the drugs
that sick babies use most. I do add ( in case there are moms who in spite
of everything will not succeed in breastfeeding) that the only thing we
really know is that artificial milk will support infant growth in case the
baby cannot get breast milk, but this growth will not be normal infant
growth.
I manage a breastfeeding forum in our version of eHealth. There are about
10,000 hits per month. I have taught all these moms about the falsity of
advertising, and about the marketing ploys of the companies. They will often
cite new ads and analyze them. They teach their friends. The ripple effect
is in action!!
When I lecture in nursing and med schools, I usually bring an ad from the
newspaper disguised as "scientific information." It makes food for thought
if I have extra time to discuss it.
Today's ad is from a company that has created a formula called Materna "
Good Night" which makes babies sleep through the night, and claims that the
babies "feel" less stuffed and heavy...... They even have charts which show
subjective feeling of the baby after this formula as compared to others.
Exactly how many babies did they ask about their general feeling. Did they
ask these babies to rate their general feeling on a scale from one to ten?
One is the feeling after breast milk and 10 is the feeling of super stuffed
like after Thanksgiving dinner?
This is how you can neutralize the effects.
Once you wake up the common intelligence of people, they will never be taken
in by these ads, and may even start to become activists!
Use any opportunity you get to educate the public.
Just make sure you stick with the facts and sound scientific, not slanderous
or fanatic.
Esther Grunis, IBCLC
Tel Aviv, Israel where it is finally raining!!
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
