I appreciate all of the discussion my hypothetical question generated. This, of course, was based loosely on fact. In WIC, we often see women who are exclusively breastfeeding until they return to work or school. Not all of the local programs can provide moms with breast pumps (we are working on that!). So moms supplement with formula (provided by WIC) while away from their babies. Because they don't need to use a lot of formula, often the amount provided by WIC *is* enough to supplement, and they don't need to purchase more. So a colleague said to me, "isn't is great that our moms can now get free breast pumps in the hospital". And I thought, "great? Hmmm, I hadn't thought of it that way. I had only looked at it from the formula marketing angle" So I thought I'd see what 1200 other people thought - and the responses were good and thought provoking. Thank you. Still not completely resolved on this issue (and I agree it is an ethical issue) - Debi VanderMey Barr, MS, RD, LD Oregon WIC Program Portland, Oregon PS - WIC=A nutrition education and supplemental food program for low-income Women, Infants, and Children in the US. and - I would caution people about using the "10 pound rule" when talking about WIC and formula. Every 10 pound baby does not drink the same amount! WIC provides *supplemental* foods - and was never intended to provide all of the food for any of the participants. All WIC programs should be telling their participants this when they enroll. The age/weight at which parents will have to buy more formula varies greatly. and - I know that women can hand express - but you can't force them to if they don't want to! and - yes I know that providing these women with formula undermines our breastfeeding promotion efforts - haven't resolved this either! that's all!