INFACT Canada Press Release
FOR RELEASE February 17, 2004 at 11:00 am

Mead Johnson Formula Claims Deceptive and Misleading: Puts Canada's Infants
at Risk

Breastfeeding experts, author and pediatrician, Dr. Jack Newman and infant
and young child nutritionist, Elisabeth Sterken, National Director of INFACT
Canada, are hosting a media conference on Tuesday, February 17th, at 11:00
am, at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Toronto, to blow the whistle on Mead
Johnson's bogus claims that its modified Enfamil A+ formula enhances mental
development of infants. The claims violate Canada's Food and Drug
regulations on health claims for infant formulas as well as consumer
protection laws prohibiting misleading advertising. INFACT Canada is urging
Health Canada to enforce these regulations and order Mead Johnson to
withdraw its deceptive marketing claims.

"What's so shocking is that Mead Johnson's claims are not verified by
scientific evidence," said Dr. Newman. "The only study cited by Mead Johnson
was funded by the formula maker. Independent research does not confirm these
claims."

The Mead Johnson advertisements are clearly designed to compete with
breastfeeding and increase the feeding of formula by newborn and young
infants. Comparisons made to breastmilk on product labels and advertisements
gives new parents the false and deceptive impression that the product has
benefits similar to breastmilk.

"Mead Johnson dupes parents into believing they are going to get smarter
babies through these false claims," said Elisabeth Sterken, nutritionist and
National Director of INFACT Canada. "This is unconscionable when we know
that formula feeding can have lasting negative health effects for both
mother and baby.

Increased consumption of infant formulas is linked to higher rates of infant
and childhood illness such as gastrointestinal, respiratory and ear
infections; increased chronic illness including juvenile diabetes, asthma
and allergies, as well as childhood cancers. Adults who were formula fed
during infancy are at higher risk from obesity and heart disease.

"Mead Johnson must take full responsibility for the health outcomes of
Canadian infants and children and the costs to parents as a result of their
false marketing claims," said Sterken.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elisabeth Sterken            416-595-9819
[log in to unmask]

 (There were "Notes for the Press:" that are quite informative and helpful,
included in the release, I have edited these out for Lactnet, please contact
INFACT for the full release, or I can send it to you
Janice Reynolds
Saskatchewan, Canada

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