I thought Peter Hartmann made an awfully provocative remark at the evening plenary session at the ILCA conference in Boca Raton.  He showed a slide accurately comparing breastmilk and formula, that was not flattering to formula and yet was actually from material GENERATED by the formula company.  He asked why a formula manufacturer would volunteer this (i.e. what motive would they have to honestly reveal this info).  He made the point that part of what got tobacco companies into such huge trouble was misrepresentation of the health risks.  The formula companies may be beginning to see the handwriting on the wall.  If people are beginning to go after Big Fast Food for the contribution of "super-sizing" to the obesity rates, perhaps it won't really be such a stretch to think that formula manufacturers may be feeling a bit vulnerable on the 'truth in advertising' front.  Perhaps aligning themselves with a good book about breastfeeding gives them a bit of wiggle room if the accusation is ever made that they didn't fairly inform consumers of the deficits of their product in comparison with human milk.

Not withstanding, it is foolish and pandering of the AAP to allow themselves to be so manipulated by an industry that competes aggressively with breastfeeding.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com

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