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Subject:
From:
Katherine Dettwyler <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 16 Feb 2001 16:15:37 -0500
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Ginger writes:

>The American Dietetic Association has always held the highest >standards
>for professional, ethical practice.

Ginger, I was trying to be very careful not to insinuate that you were
unethical yourself in your practice.  You promote the guidelines of your
professional organization, and I'm sure you always do your best by your
clients.  I do think that the ADA is influenced by the money it gets from
the Dairy Council, and from the industry organizations that promote beef and
pork and eggs, etc.  The American Academy of Pediatrics takes millions of
dollars from the formula companies.  Is that one reason why their
pro-breastfeeding statement of 1997 was (1) so late in coming and (2) so
conservative?  I know one of the formula companies threatened to withdraw
funding from the AAP if they allowed me to present my "Tricks of the Trade"
presentation at a conference for pediatricians.  The AAP told them to take a
flying leap, and they withdrew the threat.

The relationship between the US government, the dairy farmers of America,
the WIC program, the school lunch program, and the ADA are very complex and
have convoluted histories.  US taxpayers underwrite the dairy industry
through price-support programs.  The US government buys tons of milk and
cheese every year to artificially prop up the dairy industry.  There is a
huge focus on dairy products in the WIC program because it helps the
government keep the dairy farmers happy.  The "Got Milk" and "Milk, it does
a body good" campaigns were HUGE, and widespread, and expensive -- and they
were necessary because otherwise people wouldn't drink as much milk as the
dairy industry wants us to.

I'm sure I don't know all the intracacies.  But I think it is unlikely that
one group can take millions of dollars in money from an industry without
having its policies and activities influenced, even if they have the best of
intentions.  For example, the March of Dimes and their relationship to the
formula companies.  It is very complex, and difficult for individual
consumers to know what science is 'clean science' and what recommendations
really come from good research versus 'tradition' or 'personal opinion' or
'conventional wisdom.'

Thanks for giving us more info about the community you serve.

Kathy Dettwyler
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