Formula companies distribute trinkets like pens as well as food for a very good reason. The size of the gift is not related to the degree of influence that gift-giving has over physicians and nurses. Small gifts engender the same need to reciprocate and look favorably upon infant formula as large gifts do. Small gifts promote friendly, cooperative relationships between health providers and formula salespeople. Eating together promotes a cozy and snug relationship that helps remove professional barriers between sales reps and clinicians.

You can read more about this and other commercial barriers to breastfeeding in NABA's brand new publication, "Still Selling Out Mothers and Babies." This is the USA country report from NABA's Code monitoring project during the summer of 2006. Code violations remain rampant, with hospitals and health providers leading the charge in marketing infant formula. Trinkets and food are a small price to pay to reap billions of dollars in profits.

If you wish more information on "Still Selling Out Mothers and Babies" please contact me off line.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA



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