Dear Cathy,

> I understand your argument, and I admire your ability to maintain such a
> "take no prisoners" stance, but I guess I'm old and jaded, and not so
> willing to throw the babies out with the artificial formula. My years
> working at WIC taught me that it's often better to deal with the reality
> that's staring you in the face right here, right now, this mother & this
> baby, than to cling to ideal-world scenarios.

A common mistake that people make is that 'following' the WHO-code means no ABM.
But, the WHO-code is not against the use of ABM. It is also not against the
industry. But the WHO-code is against unethical marketing of formula. By
requesting caregiver to follow the WHO-code one doesn't say that one should never
prescribe formula.

Therefor a statement as "I think that formula should be as good as possible"
wouldn't necessarily be followed by "therefor I give out flyers from the producer
that does try to improve formula". These things are 2 different things.


WHO-code: http://www.ibfan.org/english/resource/who/fullcode.html

"Article 1. Aim of the Code

The aim of this Code is to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate
nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by
ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when these are necessary, on
the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and
distribution."

BTW the WHO-code is now also available on the WHO-site itself, in pdf-format. See:
http://www.who.int/nut/#inf

regards, Annelies Bon

Lay counsellor of the Dutch bf organization "Borstvoeding Natuurlijk"

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