My faith in humanity is somewhat restored.  Thanks to emails sent to the CEO
of Sears, here is an email I just received.  Sears apparently was giving out
75,000 packages each year which included infant formula to new mothers (the
number would have been 750,000 in the US, as Canada's population is one
tenth that of the US).

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

Thank you for your note regarding the inclusion of a sample
of infant formula in a gift pack we provide to new mothers.
Distribution of this package has been discontinued until we
are able to find a similar value item to replace the formula
sample.

While the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk
Substitutes, established by the World Health Organization,
is based on voluntary compliance and does not form part of
Canadian law, we are discontinuing distribution of the
sample in the spirit of the Code.

Sears recognizes that the issue of the feeding of a new born
infant is an important one.  We firmly support breastfeeding
as the superior form of infant nutrition, and in fact, have
implemented a strategy in some of our stores to encourage
and assist in breast feeding through providing breast
feeding rooms, providing a nurse on a weekly basis for one-
on-one support, and establishing a community referral
service which assists mothers who need extra help or advice.

Thank you for taking the time to advise us of your concerns
and giving us this opportunity to respond to them.

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