Some time ago,  Ruth Lufkin posted information from an ad from Baby Talk
(Aug 1995) wshich mentioend, among other things a 1-800 number to call to
find out "information on choosing a formula that's right for your baby."

Curiosity got the better of me after a few nanoseconds. I resisted calling
for two days (overwork) but finally could not ignore the post (I printed it
off) any longer (For those of you unfamiliar with her post, go to archive
and call up week two of August and look at digests for 8/10/95, 1PM.)

Anyway, I called that number and this is what I heard.  :-(
My questions, comments are in [].

THEIR formula is 100% whey, the same protein as in breastmilk. [But, are
you saying that it is the same as breastmilk?]

Yes, it is the same protein. [How could it be the same? Isn't your formula
made from cow's milk? Or is it made from human milk?]

Cow's milk. It is the same protein as in breastmilk and it is broken down
to make it easier to digest. [But if it is the same protein as in
bresatmilk, why does it HAVE to be broken down?]

It's made to be gentler. [Are you saying that it is like protein in
breastmilk, but since it isn't the same, it is hearder to digest?]

No answer. She repeated herself. Then... Some babies have a hard time
digested it. It is made from cow's milk. [Why is that if it is gentler?]

The other formulas (she mentioned by name G.....r, S....C, E.....l, S.A)
all contain casein, a larger protein. It sits in the stomach longer; the
casein is the stuff they make cheese from. They whey is the liquid portion
of the cow's milk. [If it is liquid, then why does it have to be broken
down?]  We don't HAVE to break it down, but we do that because it helps the
baby.

[Hm.. When should I use it?]

Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? [I lied; I am pregnant.]

It is for babies 0 to 12 months. If you decide not to breastfeed or decide
to wean off of breastfeeding... [When should I do that?]  That is up to
you. Talk to your doctor.

[Where can I get it?]

It is availalbe in larger chains. [I heard formula is really expensive. Can
I get it at a discount?]

From C......n?  [anywhere]  It is priced differently in different places,
comparably priced to different formulas. [Well, can I get it at a discount
store? It seems very expensive.] Walmart and K-Mart carries it.  (she
refused to say if it could be purchased on discount.)

Just thought you all might want to know what this parptiuclar 1-800 number
is saying. I doubt that woman wants me to call back. Almost eery quewtion I
asked she hesitated to answer. Sounded like she had a set piece of material
to provide. However, someone ought to call and say she is a breastfeeding
mother and see if information varies by that!  (I couldn't be both pregant
and breastfeeding; that would have blown her away!!!)

Checking out the marekting tactics of the multi-nationals is really tiring!




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC - [log in to unmask]