Hi, Lactnet. I have been off line for so long that it feels
strange popping in again, but I felt I must share my jubilation
with my 1000 closest friends.
Some months ago, I was infuriated to find promotional brochures
from a local (i.e. Israeli) baby cereal food company spread all
around the community health care clinic where I function as a
breastfeeding counsellor. In a rage, I stormed through the
clinic, gathered them all up, and for theatrical effect (plus it
was great catharsis), tore up several in front of waiting
patients, who noticeably cowered in their seats ;-) The brochure
mentioned the World Health Organization in such a way as to
insinuate that it was recommending this baby cereal (and part of
the brochure's blabla was the usual brainwash that if a 1 month
old was not gaining weight acceptably, the nurse may recommend
cereal....arrrgh). Jim Akre from the WHO suggested that I contact
the WHO legal counsel, and I did, with a copy of the brochure and
my translation of the pertinent phrase from Hebrew. The WHO is
fussy, thank goodness, about promotional use of their name....
Today I received a letter of thanks (!! the WHO legal counsel
thanks me? - hah! - I have to thank the WHO!). The important
paragraph is "I would like to inform you that we have requested
the company Taam--- Food Industry Ltd. to cease using the name of
the World Health Organization in relation to the infant food
product advertised in the brochure you sent to us. I thank you
very much for having brought this matter to our attention...".
YES! I feel great! Thank you, WHO, for being there for women and
babies. Thank you, Jim Akre, for your suggestion and support. And
thank you my fellow Lactnetters for being an inspiration. Let's
all spread the word that we CAN fight back and that we have an
important friend called the WHO.
Judy Knopf, feelin' oh so good, in her tiny corner in Beer Sheva,
Israel