I would encourage people on this list to read a letter written to the
California Department of Food and Agriculture written by Professor Joe Cummins and
Dr. Mae Wan Ho regarding the approval given to Ventria Bioscience to grow
genetically modified, pharmaceutical rice based on their patents.  This rice is
based on human milk research and the "need" for improved infant formula.  The
letter states the following:

"Biopharmaceutical rice modified with human genes for the proteins
lactoferrin and lysozyme is presented as if the product were as safe as mother's milk.
But the modified rice does not contain the native human genes and proteins.
Instead , it contains synthetic copies of the native genes that are modified
for high level production in plants.  This involves changes in codons and amino
acids as well as in the sugar molecules added to the final protein.  The
products are essentially untested for potential allergenicity and toxicity to
humans, livestock and wild life.  At any rate, prudence dictates that food crops
modified with pharmaceutical products should be grown only in isolated and
controlled greenhouses."
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/CaliforniaLetter.php

I am disturbed by the direction we are going with human milk research and
patenting, basicly unchecked by our institutions.  The effects may very well
disturb severely the promotion of breastfeeding (I believe that we are already
feeling the effects) but also disrupt our environment profoundly.  The silence of
the breastfeeding community on this issue is disturbing.  Instead, our
organizations seem to be going in the direction of support for this experimental
science directed at newborns and infants (ie. support for intellectual property
rights as a code of ethics for IBCLCs).  When human milk research is so
entangled with the infant formula, pharmaceutical, and supplement industry, will
breastfeeding, an ancient art, survive?
Valerie W. McClain, breastfeeding advocate

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