>Valerie W, McClain" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>The infant formula industry is doing what all businesses do
>in the USA.  They
>compete in the marketplace and do whatever they can to
>defeat the competitor.
>Who is the competitor?  Breastfeeding.


The problem with your statement is that while you have accurately
described what the infant formula industry is doing, this is not what
they *say* they are doing. The infant formula industry produces a
product that, in order to maintain and increase its market share -
something all businesses must by definition do in order to keep
shareholders happy - it must get people to choose to buy the product in
lieu of a healthier alternative. When the infant formula companies
focus their efforts on competing with one another, they are forthright
in their intent and message ("Buy our baby formula. It's healthier than
the other brand for reasons X, Y, and Z.") But when the industry
competes with its *real* market competitor, breastfeeding, these
companies are disingenuous.

The whole "Breastfeeding is best, but..." party line is dishonest. You
will *never* see the infant formula industry say straight up that they
want to see fewer women breastfeed or women breastfeed for shorter
periods of time. Yet by necessity - for their economic survival -this
must be their business goal. If they would say that clearly, I
personally would find their business ethics far less troubling.

Katie

=====
~Katie Allison Granju~My Home on the Web:  http://www.locoparentis.blogspot.com/ ~

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