It is extremely worrying when recognized authorities come up with 
recommendations that are not in accordance with accepted practice and in 
fact are in contradition of WHO guidelines.
Therefore Susan`s article justifies questioning recommendation to add iron 
at 4 months because the studies were done on such a narrow scale and did not 
examine exclusively breastfed infants.  I would add that her opinion is 
particularly valid because of her professional qualifications in nutrition 
as well as lactation.
Her question, why is this guidance given, who gains from it, has to be 
answered.
About a year ago, the Israeli Ministry of Health issued guidelines on 
introducing solid food, advising that babies, irrrespective of whether they 
are breastfed or not, should be given tastings of solid food at 4 months. 
(to prevent later allergies). WHO still says 6 months for the exclusively 
breastfed baby. A very pro-breastfeeding pediatrician alerted me to this 
supplying me with a list of the doctors who served on the committee which 
changed these guidelines.  Was it a coincidence that some of those doctors 
are listed on a formula company open line?
I was preparing a lecture on "The Hidden Persuaders", the ethics of 
marketing when I found that a Tel Aviv pediatrician (professor) had 
published in a respected international journal a study showing that all 
babies should be given cows milk in the first month in order to prevent 
later milk allergies.  His study was funded by the Dairy Board.  Curious, I 
looked for more references of this prof. and found that two years earlier, 
he and a colleague published a study in the same journal showing that babies 
under one year should be given peanuts for the same reason.  Who funded 
them?  Guess what - the American Peanut Board!
This would be something for Wikileaks!
Wendy Blumfield
NCT Trained Pre-natal Tutor Teacher/BFC
President Israel Childbirth Education Centre 

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