Thanks to KB for drawing our attention to this - it is well worth reading.

I picked out this little gem:

" But the market leaders have spent decades building their ties to
              pediatricians and new parents -- and building the mystique of
their
              brands. The formula makers rely mainly on "ethical marketing," a
              concept that includes maintaining Web sites and phone lines to
              answer parents' questions, sponsoring seminars and
conferences for
              pediatricians and showering doctors and new parents with gifts. "

Yeah, right. Very ethical.  Specially the bit about showering docs and
parents with gifts.

And the Big Boys are quaking that their margins may be hit by generics:

"God forbid should you have a child who can't digest protein," said Bill
              Wolfson, spokesman for Ross Laboratories. "You can't go to
generic
              companies for help."

Why would *anyone* want to call a formula company for help if their child
could not digest protein ?  This high moral tone really gets up my nose.

I don't think price is a powerful  factor in helping mothers make a choice
between breast and formula, so I don't think that low prices will affect
breastfeeding, that is, by making them choose formula instead of breast.
So, in principle, I am glad to see the Big Boys sweat a little bit, as they
are making money from the very poorest mothers' choices, and from the tax
payer too (formula milk is subsidised in the UK, too, to poor families).

Actually, I'd like to see them sweat a lot more, by seeing the bf rate in
the West shoot through the sky.....; )

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html