> Naomi wrote:
> << Where do researchers and formula companies get
> samples of breastmilk to do their research and/or
> manufacturing of the new formulas they claim are
> just like breastmilk?>>


 A few years ago, when "moms4milk.org" was an active breastfeeding support
site (it is now defunct), we were contacted by a company with this request:

"We are a women and children's health company that is currently conducting a
study on the protein components of breast milk. As part of our recruitment
process, we plan to place brochures about the study in  physicians' offices
and other places that cater to pregnant mothers. We would like to include
your web site address on our brochure in the section entitled: Helpful Web
Sites. May we include your web address on our brochure?"

After consulting with Valerie McClain who researched this company for us,
and discussing this amongst the volunteers moms that ran moms4milk.org, we
declined to support this company.

Although we couldn't find much more information on this company or what they
were doing, it seemed highly likely that they might be looking for some
human milk proteins to patent.    It was a "genomics company - researching
important disease genes affecting the health of women and children. With
insights made possible through genetic discoveries, we are dedicated to
finding the underlying causes and biological pathways of diseases. ****Gen
has active research programs in the areas of maternal and fetal medicine
with particular focus on congenital heart disease, fertility, birth defects
and other developmental problems. By focusing on the developmental stages of
life, ****Gen expects to identify genes active during the formative period
and critical biological pathways that are not apparent during later stages."

Perhaps not research into formula creation, but soliciting pregnant women to
request milk samples, before they had even given birth, for what purpose???
was something we did not want to be connected with.  Quite enlightening as
the process of how this happens, though.

Janice Reynolds

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