Human milk researchers do very valuable research and Margit Hamosh has done
and is doing some very valuable research.  Yet, most human milk researchers are
funded at one time or another by the infant formula industry.  Does that
effect the questions, the value, and/or the results of such studies?  I don't
know.   I do believe that it makes me mighty uneasy.  If breastfeeding/human milk
was a business, would we allow the competition access to the knowledge of our
ingredients? Absurd idea-breastfeeeding as a business, but a business would
never let the competition know the ingredients of their product.  Thus all
companies protect and keep private key knowledge of their product (reasons for
patents). Yet the knowledge of the ingredients in human milk is in the hands of
our "competitors."

Margit Hamosh has written with Kathleen Reddy(Director of Nutritional Servies
& Regulatory Affairs, Gerber), and Nancy Krebs an article for Gerber's
Pediatric Basics. (no.99, Summer 2002)  Pediatric Basics is put out by the Medical
Marketing Department of Gerber.  I saw this article last year but could not
find the pdf file(my browser no longer supports the pdf file)  But it is still
available in text form (although rather hard to read) at:

http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:sjOxQl3jItIJ:www.folio-one.com/pdf/PBsumm
er02-final.pdf+Hamosh+Gerber&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

It's worth reading.  When I ran across it last year, it was in regard to a
search on lactoferrin and HIV.  The article states, "Lactoferrin has potent
bactericidal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and growth promoting
functions.  Partial gastric hydrolysis of lactoferrin actually enhances
antiviral activity against HSV, CMV, and HIV...."

Anyway, this article may have been part of Gerber's "Start Healthy" campaign
"to educate consumers and professionals on the importance of starting good
eating habits early.  The education program began in 2002 when Gerber leveraged
its relationships with national nutrition leaders."  The kicker is, "Start
Healthy has received the endorsement of Secretary of Health and Human Services,
Tommy G. Thompson."
http://www.gerber.com/content/usa/bin/pdf/start_heatlhy_facts.pdf

What does that mean in regard to milk storage issues and Hamosh?  I certainly
respect Hamosh's research, yet I find myself very troubled that she has had
this funding from Gerber.  Frankly I am not sure what to believe anymore.
Research has become a nightmare of corporate interest and media hype.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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