Arly wrote, "Standard infant 'formula' is just modified cow's milk (or
stranger still, modified bean pressings)."

Yes, modified is the word--genetically modified--both the cow's milk and
soybean curd.  The use of recombinant technology in our food system has created
novel foods.  According to some analysts, more than 70% of American food
products are made through genetic modification techniques.  This does include infant
formula and baby foods.

The infant formula made in the 70's and early 80's is truly a different
product than what is on the market now.   Our new formulas are the direct result of
human milk research.  Human milk is considered the gold standard, the
blueprint for the creation of its substitute.  The infant formula industry
supports/funds research on human milk components. This industry has put its faith in
biotechnology.  That technology has the believe that it has the knowledge and
skill to imitate nature.

There is a certain irony in this funding because two foes are tied together
in a struggle for survival.  In a just society, compromise between two
fair-minded groups or individuals is a wonderful thing to behold.  Compromise in a
society where there is alot of inequity or between one powerful group and a
weaker group can create more inequity.  The end result of human milk research being
funded by the infant formula industry is that our research has become
distorted, modified to suit the more powerful partner.

Donor milk banking may never become what we want it to become.  I think we
all dream about the milk bank in every major hospital, as accessible as a blood
bank.
Donor milk banks are often tied to human milk research. Survival of milk
banking has been difficult since hiv/aids.  Thus funding/support in this area has
been critical.  So I can understand the need to leave no stone unturned in
regard to funding.  Yet I am troubled that a human milk bank would accept support
of the Dannon Company which is part of the Danone Group, manufacturer of
infant formula (Alma 1) in Europe (listed by IBFAN in Breaking the Rules 2001).
http://www.mmbaustin/support.htm

The efforts to make a high quality product, an infant formula that is close
to or better than human milk has created some troubling problems for
breastfeeding advocacy.  We have a vision of what is needed in our society, but how do
we make that vision a reality?  There are difficult choices and decisions to be
made.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html