What happened to free enterprise in the USA? What happened to old fashioned
capitalism and marketing at its best. You market your product your way, and
we market our product our way. You want to use movie stars and pretty babies
all cuddly and cute, fine. Now, butt out and let us advertise our way. I
don't get this at all. I can just hear Pepsi getting all huffy because Coca Cola
has a product they think is better and wants to say so. Or how about McD and
BK fighting over who has healthier garbage to serve the public? I am so
insulted that the formula companies think they have free reign in the advertising
world for infant feeding and that the breastfeeding people better tow the line
and market our product the way they find acceptable. They won't listen to us,
they won't follow the WHO Code. They won't stop marketing their product just
because we say they should. Who are they to think they can decide what
information is used to market breastfeeding. Oh, I forgot. They are the money.
You know, I don't even want to hear about what research says what about 'our
product'. How about they "prove" their product does no harm at all ever to
any baby anywhere anytime. They talk about guilt? No. They are scared.
Scared that when women wake up and realize that breastfeeding is not only best, it
is better than best, and not breastfeeding makes a difference they might get
angry. Angry that they were lied to. Angry that their children are now
dealing with the effects of not being told the truth. Angry because 'hey, I would
have breastfed if someone told me it really mattered, why didn't anyone tell
me'. Guilt? No. Guilt might be part of the process to reach the point of
anger, but guilt is the least of the formula company worries. Women are not
totally dense. We know formula is necessary sometimes. We know babies need to eat
and if they can't get breastmilk or breastfeed, we have to feed them. We
don't need to be lied to and manipulated so the corporate world can be richer.
That will be what makes women livid. The money. The huge amounts of money
being made by what they feed their babies. Then, what if someone gets really
angry and decides to get together with some other really angry parents and file a
class action suit....oh, yes, they are worried about guilt. But not the guilt
of the mothers.
I am so impressed with the work put into this campaign. I am amazed it got
this far with so much money watching and waiting to stomp it out. I give so
much credit and gratitude to those who put it together and work to make it
happen. Even if in the end the money wins and the substance of the campaign has to
change, it is still a major win because it will be the first time
breastfeeding is 'advertised' on such a large scale. Those of us reading this drama are
angry and frustrated, but I can only imagine what this is doing to those of you
who have worked so hard and now have to work even harder. You are all the
very best that health care should be for babies and mothers in the United
States. You are all brave to step forward and take a stand against the giants and
dare to speak the truth.
Pam MazzellaDiBosco, IBCLC
FL, USA
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