Breastfeeding ads blunted at formula companies' insistence.

[conuly]

And this, of course, is what upsets me about formula. It's not that using formula (yes, when you have a choice, though I really do not think this disclaimer is essential) does increase the chances of various medical conditions in later life. It's not that it's expensive, and that this cost is spread around the public as formula is paid for by public programs such as WIC (though I do of course support WIC in principle, I find the sheer amount of subsidizing going on to be absurd. Nobody needs as much milk as WIC dishes out, but the dairy industry is a big lobby, that sort of thing).

It's the dirty dealing here. Because despite all their pretty names ("Goodstart", anybody?) and their claims that "ofcoursebreastisbestbutUSEOURSTUFF!!!", they show that they don't really care about children as much as they care about their own pocketbooks.

First, they lobby and lobby to water down the ad campaign - and then they increase their own ad campaigns to compete with the watered down breastfeeding ones!

And that fucking pisses me off.

Comments

[latenightparty.livejournal.com]

Of course, being breastfed doesn't completely shield you from health problems or genetic disorders. Breastfeeding can't fix everything and it doesn't always result in stellar health. But the point is, breastfeeding reduces, not eliminates, the risk of certain health problems and boosts the baby's immune system. I'm of the opinion that one should breastfeed if possible, using formula as a last resort. But if it's not possible because of health problems or HIV or whatever, then it's not the end of the world and it's nobody's fault and it does not mean that your baby will die or even be guaranteed to have health problems. Though I can't help but get irked by people who have no problems preventing them from breastfeeding, but don't because of ignorance.