The DHA and AA oils in our new "imitation human milk" infant formulas are 
made through a process of genetic engineering called cloning.  I find it 
ironic that most people refuse to use the word genetic engineering.  It's not 
as difficult to pronounce or spell as Docosahexanoic acid (DHA).  

The FDA within the past year or two changed the way in which GRAS (Generally 
recognized as safe) status is determined.  Presently we have a system whereby 
the industry states their belief to the FDA that a particular new/novel food 
item is safe.  The FDA accepts that determination unless after marketing 
something drastic happens.  Thus we are all the guinea pigs to the food 
industry.  The FDA by this change trusts that the food industries will do 
right and monitoring is after the fact.  This is why when Wyeth in the late 
90's, applied for GRAS status for DHA and AA made by Martek, they were 
refused.  The old FDA GRAS system refused them because independent studies 
showed that their was a problem with these novel organisms (novel=cloned 
organisms) in experimental rats.  Approval was based on the FDA taking the 
time to look at the studies and they  looked not only at  studies provided by 
the industry itself but at independent studies.  Now in an effort to 
stream-line the process (the fast track to safety), what we have is 
after-the-fact monitoring and total acceptance of the industry's own studies.

There are people in government, in academic institutions, and industry who 
believe quite strongly in biotechnology.  They believe in the ability of man 
to manipulate our genetic environment, to change and rearrange our DNA.  At 
the science/academic level it is the wish to improve things for mankind.  The 
desire to improve life is wonderful.  But that desire must be accompanied by 
due caution.  The technology has much to offer in regard to healing but 
equally it has the potential to destroy.  It reminds me of the infancy of 
atomic energy.  We were enthralled by the power and the opportunites this 
technology would bring.  We disregarded precautions and many, many people 
have suffered and died because of it.  

In a position paper I did for AnotherLook (a nonprofit organization dedicated 
to gathering information, raising critical questions and stimulating needed 
research about breastfeeding in the context of 
HIV/AIDs--http://www.anotherlook.org), I have this quote and I think it is an 
important quote:


> 
> >> The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) wrote 
>> in requesting for clinical studies for the Healthy People 2000 Project in 
>> 1991:
>> “Although it is commonly stated that human milk is the optimal food for 
>> newborn humans, it might be possible to develop artificial formulae which 
>> enhance infant development and health even more than does human milk...” 
>> 
> 
    
This is the government writing about the Healthy People 2000 Project.  I 
think most breastfeeding advocates believe that this project was about 
increasing breastfeeding rates.  Frankly, I think not.  Particularly, after 
looking at the 600 or so patents on human milk components (mostly cloned 
human milk components).  I think alot of that funding went into research not 
to benefit breastfeeding advocacy but to build a better formula, an imitation 
better than human milk itself. Even if you could build a milk better than 
human milk, the missing element is the process of breastfeeding, the skin to 
skin contact that is so very vital in creating and maintaining loving 
relationships.

While we all rant and rave about DHA and AA, I regret to tell you that this 
is just the beginning.  Their are other imitation human milk components 
components in the infant formula industry pipeline. If and when Prolacta 
Bioscience (for profit human milk bank--human milk in a can) gets up and 
functioning, we will have an enormous problem.  This will not be imitation 
anything, its the real thing.  If we think we have problems now because of 
DHA, just imagine the problem when mothers can buy human milk in a can.  

The infant formula industry will always sabotage breastfeeding because 
breastfreeding is the ultimate competition.  They have taken the research on 
human milk and used it against breastfeeding.  There is a researcher of the 
fatty acids in human milk whose name is James Hanson.  He is often quoted in 
the media about Lipil.  He is also the medical director of Mead Johnson.  We 
allow the infant formula industry access to human milk but you or I cannot 
have a tour of the actual manufacturing facilities of an infant formula 
company nor get a detailed list of the actual contents of infant 
formula--trade secrets.  Infant formula has a high level of economic 
protection.  It is ironic and tragic that human milk has no such 
protection.....
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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