Marsha and the Lactnet community,

With the recent decision of the USA Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the unlawful marketing practices/claims of "Airborne" supplement, am I completely wrong to think something equally painful monetarily for the formula companies would be handed out as well?  The "airborne" class action law suit was won and anyone who bought Airborne between the years of 2001-2007 is entitled to some of the settlement which is millions of dollars.  

There really was no difference in my limited knowledge of marketing practices of both companies.  So why hasnt the Federal Trade Commision pursued the marketing claims of the formula companies?  Has any class action suits been brought against the formula industry through the FTC?

Just sitting here thinking on Saturday.

Theresa RNC IBCLC
Central Florida

Theresa

--- On Sat, 8/16/08, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Fromula Talk
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2008, 6:48 PM

Christine has told us of the newest ploy to seduce nurses and mothers into using
Similac formula. Abbott Nutritionals has started a new marketing tactic calling
their formula "Early Shield" as they tout the ingredients that include
oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides are biologically active carbohydrates. Over
100 have been identified in human milk. They prevent pathogens from binding to
their receptors. Oligosaccharides in human milk contain human blood group
antigens, with women from different blood groups exhibiting distinct patterns.
They are a source of sialic acid which is an integral part of nerve cells in the
brain. Formula-fed infants derive about 20% of sialic acid compared to what is
available in human milk. Soy formulas do not have detectable levels of sialic
acid.

The oligosaccharides in formula?are not human-derived oligosaccharides. They
come from yeast. Consider informing your nurse manager at the next staff meeting
about this. Participants in the childbirth classes should also be informed. Also
if formula samples are being given out in the childbirth classes you might want
to inform your risk management department about not being able to alert mothers
to formula recalls because the lot numbers of the "gifts" were not
recorded. If the formula is powdered, it is not sterile and places the hospital
in a position of liability if the formula is contaminated. Check the resources
at www.Banthebags.org for more ideas on how to rid your hospital of this
nuisance.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA



             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set
lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome





             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome