I took a long break from Lactnet due to illness, so it's been ages since I
posted, but this topic is one I can't remain silent on.. it's also one I
was approached by an international journal to write an article on..

I agree with Jenni James' original comment: breastfeeding/lactation
organizations (and lactation consultants et al) should be challenging pump
companies and others to adhere to the Code.

Some organizations have a close relationship with the pump companies and
many constantly seek sponsorship and donations from them. Someone mentioned
the time it takes to check whether companies are complying with the Code. I
believe it's unethical not to do so. If organizations are seeking
sponsorship and exhibitors, they have an obligation to monitor and check on
a regular basis - companies' allegiances/takeovers, compliances with the
Code etc. Ignorance of a company's status in complying, or ownership should
not be an excuse when a breastfeeding organization takes sponsorship. [And
it's so important that it doesn't matter in which country the company
breaches the Code, it's still in breach of the Code. ]

Over a long period, I've heard of a 'grab for money' approach by certain
organizations. The amounts being asked for conference sponsorship are
unbelievable - but the breastfeeding/lactation organizations know that at
least one, if not two or three of the pump companies, will be prepared to
pay it. The apparent inevitability of the sponsorship just escalates the
amounts set by conference organisers.

And then there's companies like Pigeon. Here in Australia, the Australian
Breastfeeding Asscn endorsed a recently published IBFAN Look What they're
doing Report (on breaches of the WHO Code and subsequent resolutions) and
circulated it to members. The ABA logo appears right below the image showing
a breach by Pigeon. At the same time, Lansinoh (owned by Pigeon) was a
sponsor and exhibitor at their Hot Milk conference. ABA have again accepted
bronze sponsorship for forthcoming seminars from Lansinoh (Medela is a gold
sponsor). [I have the Board's written justification if anyone would care to
read it. ]

At that Hot Milk conference, registrants were given a free magazine from a
company with full page ads from Karitane (formula) and NUK. Some
participants collected and opened hundreds of those magazines at the
offending pages and spread them across the floor of an entrance to the
exhibit hall - at least a few recognised the hypocrisy. [Interestingly, ABA
is working with this magazine publisher on a 'Feel Free to Feed' campaign,
at the same time as their shop promotes breastfeeding *blankets*, discreet
feeding paraphernalia is rare in Australia, but what sort of message does a
blanket give ?]

We exhibited at the Hot Milk conference, and I heard that some participants
had been quite confrontational to representatives from Medela. Whilst it's
important to provide feedback on the Medela material, their presence and the
phenomenal sponsorship are as a result of lobbying by the organization/its
Board, so it's the Board who should be approached about the advertising
material from their gold sponsor, and most prominent exhibitor, as well as
the appropriate people within Medela.

From what I've heard, many who exhibit at (and possibly attend) conferences
would welcome a more low-key and less expensive trade area. The obscene
sponsorship amounts add to the costs of the pumps - so it's mainly the
mothers (and our taxes for public hospitals buying pumps) paying more than
they might if all the conferences avoided sponsorship from pump companies,
and just had low key market atmosphere/trade displays, and budgeted
accordingly. At the most recent ILCA Conference I attended, in 2006, pump
companies had an overwhelming presence and sponsored evening events - I was
not alone in making a conscious decision to avoid both those evening events.

I've mentioned a couple of organizations because they're
national/international and would be familiar to many of you, but I have many
more examples worldwide of breastfeeding/lactation/midwifery organizations
that I could have cited.

For a conference tour we're organising next year I've been approached by
pump companies, one insisting that they're perfectly Code compliant and know
the Code better than anyone. That sounded familiar and like a new 'catch
cry' in the pump industry - not so long ago it was the manufacturers of
breastmilk substitutes saying the same thing.

So, as I read the expansive and detailed criticism about Medela, I wonder if
the members of breastfeeding/lactation organizations are challenging their
Boards/Committees who aggressively seek, and accept such phenomenal
sponsorship ? Are all these organizations acting ethically and in the best
interests of breastfeeding when it comes to sponsorship and donations ? Are
any others [Jenni says ALCA is] using their position of strength in the
relationships to affect changes in advertising and practice.

Is a higher or different standard expected from pump companies and other
businesses in the breastfeeding field than from breastfeeding/lactation
organizations ?


Jan Cornfoot
IBFAN representative in Australia
[log in to unmask]

[Disclaimer: as an ILCA member and volunteer, I did organise the exhibit
hall at the ILCA conference in Sydney. I have no affiliation with any pump
company. I was until recently, a member of both ILCA and ABA.]

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