Dear Listmates,
 
Wanted to share that I attended an educational seminar last evening  
sponsored by one of the big 3 formula makers at a swanky, upscale  restaurant. The 
educational piece that I thought would be interesting and  really wanted to 
hear was on "Infant Falls/Drops" in the hospital maternity  setting. It was 
a mere 20 minutes long, prerecorded with no opportunity to  ask questions. 
Some interesting data on the occurrence of these events, and an  initiative 
which is being developed for education and prevention, was presented.  Of 
course to get to that, we had to first sit through a 30 minute (at least)  
session on why the new versions of formula and other nutritional products from  
this company are better than their competitors' products. It was a good 
sales  pitch to be sure, which is what I expected. Plenty of give-away's,  
including tote bags, candy, sunglasses and visors, were on the tables, as  well 
as drink coupons, 2 per person. I have yet to review their new booklet on  
breastfeeding that was in the folder they handed out. There were probably  
upwards of 75-85 people there, although many of them left after that first  
session. I had arranged to pay for my dinner which cost $35.50 and included my 
 glass of wine, and the gratuity. If that was the average cost for each 
attendee,  wow, this marketing/sales presentation sure cost a lot of money. But 
I would  hazard a guess that it was only a "drop in the bucket" (miniscule 
amount)  from their marketing budget. 
 
Some of the nurses who knew I was going and planning to pay for my own  
dinner, just didn't get it that my Code of Ethics requires me to adhere to  the 
Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes which prohibits health care  
workers from taking any freebies/gifts/meals from companies that not  
compliant with the Code. They see nothing wrong with taking anything they  can get 
from whatever company offers them something. I would not be  surprised if 
they will soon begin touting the superiority of this  company's products when 
mothers ask them about which formula is best. I think I  will refer them to 
the website www.nofreelunch.org.
 
I did ask the sales rep to explain why they are now producing a liquid  
human milk fortifier, instead of a powder, and she was easily able to  answer 
this question with what sounded like a rather scripted answer.
 
Mary-Jane Sackett, RN, IBCLC, RLC
Pittsfield, MA 
In the beautiful Berkshire Hills of New England

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