This is to alert you to new information on the baby milk campaign from Baby Milk Action.

You may have seen some of the coverage about a Wyeth/SMA formula promotion with an article in a UK celebrity magazine called OK! which is read by millions.

Sadly, some of the coverage and discussion around this issue has seen the call for stronger regulations on formula companies as an attack on mothers who use formula. The opposite is the case.

The regulations we and our partners in the Baby Feeding Law Group and Breastfeeding Manifesto coalition are calling for are internationally agreed standards which companies should already be abiding by. The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent, relevant Resolutions of the World Health Assembly are intended to protect and promote breastfeeding AND to ensure the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when these are necessary. For my blog about the reaction to the OK! magazine promotion and the lessons I think we need to learn, see:
 http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2007/08/learning-from-jordan.html

There is desperate need for regulations to protect mothers who use formula and this is the critical time as the current weak law is up for review.

Companies are failing to warn mothers of the risks of possible contamination of powdered infant formula with bacteria and to give clear instructions on how to reduce them. Powdered formula is not sterile. The good news is the safety steps are simple. The World Health Organisation states: "preparation of Powdered Infant Formula with water at a temperature of no less than 70 °C dramatically reduces the risk." The bad news is that one company, Hipp, says on its labels: "Boil water and leave to stand until temperature reaches 50 - 60 Deg. C". This is irresponsible and we need stronger legislation to force it and other companies to give mothers the correct information. See our press release:
 http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press10aug07.html

Calling for regulations, including the banning of advertising of breastmilk substitutes, is not denying mothers information, because advertising is not information. It is persuasion. I have analysed company claims to try to answer the question mothers who use formula want answered: which is the best infant formula? Which is closest to breastmilk? Unsurprisingly all companies claim their formula is the best, resorting to claims that are not substantiated by independent assessment. This does not help mothers. Correct, independent information is required. See:
 http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2007/08/best-infant-formula.html

More needs to be done to provide independent information at the same time as stopping company propaganda. You can sign up to the 7 points of the Breastfeeding Manifesto, which is calling for extra resources for training health workers as well as other measures. See:
 http://www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/

The Baby Feeding Law Group is working on point 7: implementation of the marketing requirements for baby foods. Our demands on the government include better warnings on labels and clearer - and correct - instructions. See:
 http://www.babyfeedinglawgroup.org.uk/advocacy/uklaw0707.html

Too often groups such as Baby Milk Action, which have been campaigning for ALL mothers for decades, are unfairly portrayed as dictating to mothers. As I said in my quote about the article in OK! magazine: "It is a mother's decision how she feeds her child. No-one should try to make her feel guilty, our responsibility is to ensure all mothers receive accurate information on infant feeding and support if they have problems breastfeeding."

We have won important changes, including the recent crackdown on illegal claims made on formula labels. We thank you for your support and hope you will continue to support us at this critically important time. We look forward to your views, particularly if you are using formula, which you can send direct to me or leave as comments on my blog.

Best wishes,

Mike Brady
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Mike Brady
Campaigns and Networking Coordinator
Baby Milk Action

Tel: 01223 464420
Fax: 01223 464417

Baby Milk Action, 34 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1QY
 http://www.babymilkaction.org/

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