A close friend of mine sent me a copy of a letter written by the GMA, Grocery
Manufacturers of America, Inc. to an Assembly Member Chair for the Committee
on Health in California in April of this year. I thought the letter worth
sharing to all breastfeeding advocates around the world because the GMA is
the world's largest association of food, beverage, and consumer products.
The members of this organization represent annual sales of $460 billion and
include such companies as Coca-cola, Dannon, Gallo Winery, General Mills,
Hershey, Heinz, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Hoffman-La Roche (major
vitamin manufacturer), Kellogg, Land O' Lakes (Nestle company), Johnson &
Johnson, Nestle USA, Novartis, Pepsi, Platex Products, Ross, Unilever, Philip
Morris, etc.
This association wrote the following letter in April of this year and it is
not too surprising that the bill they opposed died. According to the letter
written by the GMA, the proposed California Bill AB 2447 "would have
prohibited the distribution of infant formula samples to mothers, unless a
mother had signed a consent form stating that she understands the risks
associated with infant formula and the benefits of breastfeeding." A fine
was proposed of $500 to providers who failed to obtain this consent.
The GMA lobbies on the federal, state, and international level. Obviously it
represents enormous financial interests world-wide. They have 140 companies
as members. I say bravo to those in California who worked on this bill and
had it proposed. The bill probably represents alot of hard work and probably
great disappointment. But it was opposed by an enormous lobbying group with
lots of power who obviously is more concerned with profits than the health of
infants.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC
http://www.gmabrands.com/news/docs/Testimony.cfm?docid=932
Testimony of:
<A HREF="http://www.gmabrands.com/news/docs/Individual.cfm?PersonID=114">Kristin Power </A>
Director, State Affairs
Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc.
GMA Letter of Opposition
April 16, 2002
GMA Letter of Opposition to California Restrictive Infant Formula Bill
The Honorable Helen Thomson
Chair, Assembly Committee on Health
State Capitol, Room 6005
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 2447 (Goldberg) – OPPOSE
Dear Assembly Member Thomson:
On behalf of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, I am writing to oppose AB
2447. AB 2447 would prohibit the distribution of infant formula samples to
mothers, unless a mother has signed a consent form stating that she
understands the risks associated with infant formula and the benefits of
breastfeeding. The bill would impose a fine of $500 on providers who fail to
obtain this consent. The Grocery Manufacturers of America is the world's
largest association of food, beverage and consumer product companies. With
U.S. sales of more than $450 billion, GMA members employ more than 2.5
million workers in all 50 states, including over 300 facilities employing
more than 70,000 California residents. Led by a board of 44 Chief Executive
Officers, GMA speaks for food and consumer product manufacturers at the
state, federal and international levels on legislative and regulatory issues.
We believe that in order to affect breastfeeding rates in California (which
are already some of the highest in the nation), efforts must be undertaken to
improve education and support for breastfeeding. This can most effectively be
done by funding and supporting the use of lactation consultants, encouraging
employers to provide women with time to express breast milk at work, and
providing the WIC Program with the resources to more fully reach and counsel
low-income women about the benefits of breastfeeding. Moreover, in some
instances, medical experts suggest the use of infant formula is entirely
appropriate for new mothers. Creating a new government mandate, such as the
one proposed in AB 2447 is misguided and imposes an unnecessary regulatory
burden without any real health benefit. For these reasons, we request your NO
vote on AB 2447 when it is heard in committee on April 23. Sincerely, Kristin
Power
Director, State Affairs cc: Members, Assembly Committee on Health
Assembly Member Goldberg
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