I appreciate all of the discussion my hypothetical question generated.
This, of course, was based loosely on fact.

In WIC, we often see women who are exclusively breastfeeding until
they return to work or school.  Not all of the local programs can provide
moms with breast pumps (we are working on that!).  So moms
supplement with formula (provided by WIC) while away from their
babies.  Because they don't need to use a lot of formula, often the
amount provided by WIC *is* enough to supplement, and they don't need
to purchase more.

So a colleague said to me, "isn't is great that our moms can now get free
breast pumps in the hospital".  And I thought, "great?  Hmmm, I hadn't
thought of it that way.  I had only looked at it from the formula marketing
angle"

So I thought I'd see what 1200 other people thought - and the responses
were good and thought provoking.  Thank you.

Still not completely resolved on this issue (and I agree it is an ethical
issue) -
Debi VanderMey Barr, MS, RD, LD
Oregon WIC Program
Portland, Oregon

PS - WIC=A nutrition education and supplemental food program for
low-income Women, Infants, and Children in the US.

and - I would caution people about using the "10 pound rule" when
talking about WIC and formula.  Every 10 pound baby does not drink the
same amount!  WIC provides *supplemental* foods - and was never
intended to provide all of the food for any of the participants.  All WIC
programs should be telling their participants this when they enroll.  The
age/weight at which parents will have to buy more formula varies
greatly.

and - I know that women can hand express - but you can't force them to
if they don't want to!

and - yes I know that providing these women with formula undermines
our breastfeeding promotion efforts - haven't resolved this either!

that's all!