These are the references I chopped from that first post, explaining why AAP settled on 4-6 months in 1980.     
[i] Ganelin, S, “The feeding of solids debate”, Pediatrics (1981) 61, 165.

[ii] Kajosaari, M.; Saarinen, V., “Prophylaxis of atopic disease by six months’ total solid food elimination. Evaluation of 135 exclusively breastfed infants of atopic families”, Acta Paed. Scand. 1983, 72, 3, 411-4

[iii] Quandt, S. A., “The effect of beikost in the diet of breast-fed infants”, J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1984, 84, 1, 47-51. This article showed that early introduction of solids ‘may lead to a significantly lower weight gain than continuation of the exclusive milk diet.’ And of course, as discussed elsewhere in this book.

[iv] Barness, L. reply to Ganelin, Pediatrics, 1981, 67, 166.

[v] Heppell, L. M. J.; Cant, A. J.; Kilshaw, P. J., “Reduction in the antigenicity of whey proteins by heat treatment: a possible strategy for producing a hypo-allergenic infant milk formula”, Br. J. Nutr. (1984) 51, 29-36.   [PS. 2014: that didn't work, some children react even to the extensively hydrolysed formulas..]

[vi] Rawlins, M. D., “Doctors and the drugmakers”, Lancet (1984), ii, 276-8.


Remember that this was published in 1985. Lots has happened since, but this was an important moment in history. The damage done by early feeding  was being recognised and all paediatric bodies were trying to make changes, but were heavily industry-dependent and unconvinced that lactation could work....this was before the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, before IBLCE, before ISRHML... Read the correspondence and  see for yourself that "some disadvantage" to breastfed infants was the price of trying to move away from practices causing gut damage, but without dissociating breastmilk and infant formula. After all, as a FDA senior officer said to me, "We have to reassure American parents that infant formula is safe, because American society depends on bottle feeding." She was trying to justify both plagiarism and selective use of evidence, in a chapter in a major AAP publication. Or "being even-handed," some would say... minimising risks of formula, exaggerating risks of breastfeeding, so as not to make anyone feel anxious or guilty about using formula.
Maureen Minchin





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