I got a kick today at work I thought I would share with you all.

I've read a number of posts bemoaning how mothers ought to be
informed of the dangers of infant formula and how health providers
could be considered liable for failing to provide this information.
Wouldn't it be nice....

Well, Professor Roger Short, a breastfeeding zealot and FHI Board
Member has actually submitted a formal request to the Australian
government to require infant formula to carry this warning label on
the outside:

        Warning: Infant formula is potentially hazardous to the
        health of your baby in the first 4-6 months of its life.

And on an insert inside:

        Feeding an infant on artificial formula during the first
        4-6 months of its life instead of breast milk puts the
        baby at much greater risk of:
        diarrhoea
        respiratory infections
        sudden infant death syndrome
        necrotising enterocolitis
        lowered intelligence (IQ) in later life
        allergies in later life
        early age onset diabetes

        Failure to breastfeed also has adverse effects for the mother:

        she is at greater risk of developing breast cancer in later
        life
        she is denied the contraceptive effect of lactational
        amenorrhea

He asserts that Australia ought to do this as a signatory to the
Innocenti Declaration and to set an example to the rest of the
world.

I understand his proposal has not been met with favor.  But I guess
it has been getting attention...
Cindy Visness
Family Health International
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