Rachel,

The phrase in "Clay's" letter to "Tommy" that hit me was this one:

"The IFC is grateful for what Assistant Secretary Keane has done, but
the industry simply feels that more must be done if this campaign is to
be at all balanced."

I question why anyone would expect "balance" in a campaign to promote
breastfeeding over formula feeding. "Balance" implies two equal options.
Clay, it's a campaign! Doesn't this imply that one option is being
promoted over the other?

I suppose the infant formula industry believes that *they* are giving
"balanced" information when they tip their hats to breastfeeding before
promoting their product "if a mother cannot or chooses not to
breastfeed, or discontinues breastfeeding prior to 1 year or chooses to
supplement."

But imagine for a moment that we did want to design a "balanced"
statement that acknowledged the place of infant formula in the world of
infant feeding, what would it say? Using the model the companies have
developed for formula promotion, I guess we would start with a statement
about our competition, then make some statements about breastfeeding.
For us, integrity demands that we stick to the scientific and
factual--unlike the hogwash about 'comfort proteins' and such-like
inventions that the companies claim for their products.

Here's my attempt at such a statement. If you recognize some words and
phrases, it's because I borrowed them from the IFC letter and from their
website; some come originally from the AAP Statement. I have starred all
of my borrowings.

                        ***

A *Balanced* Statement about Infant Feeding

Paragraph 1
*During the initial and most crucial months of growth and development in
a child's life, nutrition and diet should be a major concern to
parents.* During the process of *making a decision* whether or *not to
breastfeed,* *to supplement breastfeeding,* or *to stop breastfeeding
before her baby is one year of age,* every woman has the right to full
information about the risks, costs, and benefits of all infant feeding
methods. She also has the right to a social environment that supports
and protects breastfeeding within the family, the health care system,
the workplace, and the community. 'Support' means care that helps her to
establish breastfeeding and solve any problems with breastfeeding.
'Protection' means eliminating barriers to breastfeeding in any place
where she and her child will spend their time.

Paragraph 2
Infant formula is not the *preferred and recommended method* of infant
feeding, but for the few *women who cannot breastfeed* (a very small
percentage of mothers), it does supply adequate *nutrients* for *infant
growth*. The great majority of mothers can breastfeed. Breastfeeding is
*safe and nutritious,* protects mother's and baby's health, *supports
optimal growth and development,* provides *psychological benefits* to
mother and child, is *convenient,* and can be done with *utmost
confidence.*

                        ***

For the sake of completeness, I have written another paragraph. This one
slips into ethical territory that we have discussed on Lactnet, and I am
not so sure that there is an evidence base for everything, but I'd like
to put it on the table for people to think about.

                        ***

Paragraph 3
For the small minority of women who cannot breastfeed directly, the best
alternative is for the mother to provide her own milk for her baby. For
the small minority of *women who cannot breastfeed* or who cannot
produce all the milk their babies need, the best alternative is to
provide human milk from other women through milk banking (similar to,
but far safer than, blood banking). Because human milk fortification may
be necessary for some premature or sick babies, milk fortifiers should
be prepared from human milk. It may be appropriate to recompense the
women who provide milk for milk banks or for making fortifiers. However,
it is inappropriate for a company to profit from providing human milk to
people who need it.

                        ***

I know I'm describing Utopia, but ya gotta have a dream! I am forced to
admit that formula has a place in today's world because not all babies
have access to human milk, but surely the answer to this problem is to
fix the access. We must not allow commercial interests and policy-makers
to throw up more and more barriers that keep babies from obtaining the
milk that is *preferred and recommended,* barriers that keep mothers and
babies from teaming up to make milk happen and keep it happening in
their lives as long as the babies need it...with a little extra to bank
for those rare babies whose moms  truly can't provide it.


Chris Mulford, RN, IBCLC
LLL Leader Reserve
working for WIC in South Jersey (Eastern USA)
Co-coordinator, Women & Work Task Force, WABA

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