Formula Archives

Organic Formula and Sugar

May 20, 2008

Here's an interesting story from yesterday's New York Times. It talks about how Similac Organic formula is sweetened with sucrose. Here's an excerpt from the story.

Parents may be buying it because they believe that organic is healthier, but babies may have a reason of their own for preferring Similac Organic: it is significantly sweeter than other formulas. It is the only major brand of organic formula that is sweetened with cane sugar, or sucrose, which is much sweeter than sugars used in other formulas.

No health problems in babies have been associated with Similac Organic. But to pediatricians, there are risks in giving babies cane sugar: Sucrose can harm tooth enamel faster than other sugars; once babies get used to its sweeter taste, they might resist less sweet formulas or solid foods; and some studies suggest that they might overeat, leading to rapid weight gain in the first year, which is often a statistical predictor of childhood obesity.

Asked about these concerns, Carolyn Valek, a spokeswoman for Abbott Nutrition, the division of Abbott Laboratories that makes Similac Organic, said that sucrose had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and was considered “safe and well established.” Ms. Valek said that Similac Organic had no more sweetener than other formulas and that prolonged contact with any kind of sugar could cause tooth decay.

In Europe, where sudden increases in childhood obesity are a pressing public health issue, sucrose-sweetened formulas will be banned by the end of 2009, except when ordered by a doctor for babies with severe allergies. The 27 countries of the European Union adopted the new rules according to the recommendations of the group’s Scientific Committee on Food, which found that sucrose provided no particular nutritional advantages, could, in rare cases, bring about a fatal metabolic disorder, and might lead to overfeeding.

Answering Your Breastfeeding Questions

December 20, 2007

I've been doing some guest writing on The Nest Baby, a cool site for new moms. Readers have been submitting questions about breastfeeding and I've been answering them. You can check out all of the answers on this link. You can also jump right to the specific questions from these links:
Breastfeeding Positions
Breast Lumps and Nursing
Dealing with Thrush
Inverted Nippes
Milk Blisters
Newborn Eating Enough?
Getting Help At Home
Prepping to Nurse?
Prepping to Pump?
Pumping and Work
Pumping Problems
Storing Breastmilk
Travel while Nursing
Weaning and Milk Supply
Pumping Extra Milk

If you have a specific question, feel free to email me any time at mamaknowsbreast@yahoo.com.

Formula Industry Lobbied To Tone Down Government Breastfeeding Ads

September 01, 2007

This is a story about big companies and their Washington lobbyists. It could be a story about getting a tunnel built, regulating gas mileage or even securing a military contract. But in this case, it's about infant formula companies influencing an ad campaign aimed at promoting breastfeeding.

The The Washington Post reported the story yesterday. Here's a quick summary:

1. The Department of Health and Human Services ran a public health campaign a few years ago to promote breastfeeding. The ads aimed to convince mothers that their infants faced health risks if they did not breastfeed.

2. Some of the original ads showed baby bottle nipples on top of asthma inhalers or insulin dispensers for diabetes. The point of the ads, which included statistics, was that breastfeeding reduces the risk of these diseases.

3. Formula makers lobbied to get the ads changed and they succeeded. The ads were never seen by the public. Instead, they were replaced by pairs of dandelions (ie. breastfeeding reduces asthama), or two scoops of ice cream (breastfeeding reduces obesity), that evoked breasts.

4. Furthermore, HHS did not promote a study by its own Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of multiple studies on breast-feeding, which generally found breastfeeding was associated with fewer ear and gastrointestinal infections, and lower rates of diabetes, leukemia, obesity, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. (To read the report, look in the right hand column of the Post story, in the box that says On The Web, and read "Breastfeeding and Maternal Infant Health.")

Now here are some paragraphs from The Washington Post story:

The formula industry's intervention -- which did not block the ads but helped change their content -- is being scrutinized by Congress in the wake of last month's testimony by former surgeon general Richard H. Carmona that the Bush administration repeatedly allowed political considerations to interfere with his efforts to promote public health.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman's Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating allegations from former officials that Carmona was blocked from participating in the breast-feeding advocacy effort and that those designing the ad campaign were overruled by superiors at the formula industry's insistence.

"This is a credible allegation of political interference that might have had serious public health consequences," said Waxman, a California Democrat...

Gina Ciagne, the office's public affairs specialist for the campaign, said, "We were ready to go with our risk-based campaign -- making breast-feeding a real public health issue -- when the formula companies learned about it and came in to complain. Before long, we were told we had to water things down, get rid of the hard-hitting ads and generally make sure we didn't somehow offend."

Ciagne and others involved in the campaign said the pushback coincided with a high-level lobbying campaign by formula makers, which are mostly divisions of large pharmaceutical companies that are among the most generous campaign donors in the nation.

The campaign the industry mounted was a Washington classic -- a full-court press to reach top political appointees at HHS, using influential former government officials, now working for the industry, to act as go-betweens

Two of the those involved were Clayton Yeutter, an agriculture secretary under President George H.W. Bush and a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Joseph A. Levitt, who four months earlier directed the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition food safety center, which regulates infant formula. A spokesman for the International Formula Council said both were paid by a formula manufacturer to arrange meetings at HHS....

The industry substantially increased its own advertising as soon as the HHS campaign was launched. According to a 2006 report by the Government Accountability Office, formula companies spent about $30 million in 2000 to advertise their products. In 2003 and 2004, when the campaign was underway, infant formula advertising increased to nearly $50 million.

So there you have it. Washington D.C. at its finest. For me, while I think breastfeeding is best, I still it as a matter of personal choice. A mom has to decide what will work best for her and her baby. Even so, it is sickening to see the inner workings of the formula industry. Of course we're talking about businesses here. And businesses is designed to maximize profits. It's just a shame that for some companies, doing so can have serious health consequences for our children.

FDA Warns Nestle Over Baby Formula

December 18, 2006

If you've been using Nestle's Good Start Infant Formula with Iron to feed your baby, you may want to think twice.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Nestle a warning letter on November 27th after a sample failed to meet proper nutrient levels. It seems the sample, collected in May, did not meet minimum requirements for calcium and phosphorus.

Nestle has said that its tests found that its product is fine. Here is a quote from a Reuters news story:

"We are working with FDA to better understand how issues relating to analytical testing methods might explain the differences noted in these two nutrients," the company said.

The Dairy Reporter.com reported that Nestle stands by its product.

“We have had two independent tests done by absolutely top quality laboratories and we have not been able to confirm the findings of the FDA,” said a Nestlé spokesperson. “There is no question of a recall. We are in contact with the FDA and discussions are in progress.”

Nestle has had problems with its formula in the past. It was first accused, in the 1970's, of unethically pushing formula on women in developing countries and thus discouraging them from breast feeding. Check out Breastfeeding.com for background on the boycott. This will lead you to Baby Milk Action, a group devoted to boycotting Nestle.

Nestle has 15 working days from receipt of the letter to respond. So that brings us to some time this week. Let's see what happens. I have calls in to both the FDA and Nestle to see what's happening. I'll keep you posted.

And PS...thanks to Micky at Mocha Milk for first pointing out this story.

Breastfeeding Bill of Rights For New York?

December 08, 2006

Update on December 11, 2006: I just got an email from State Senator Liz Krueger, saying she found this post on my blog. She wrote, "I wanted to thank you for helping spread the word."

I've breastfed The Bear all over New York City. We've done it in Central Park, playgrounds and restaurants. Today alone, I breastfed in a coffee shop, during a kiddie music class and at a preschool meeting. In general, I'm shy. But with breastfeeding, I just don't care. If The Bear is hungry, I'm not going to make him wait.

So I'm fortunate that New York has a law that allows a mom to breastfeed in any public or private location. But according to State Senator Liz Krueger, it's time for New York to take things one step further. (Thanks to Tanya of The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog for pointing this one out). Krueger has introduced a bill she's calling the Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights.

The Press Release outlines these objectives:

Before You Deliver: The right to information free from commercial interests, which provides the nutritional, medical and psychological benefits of breastfeeding; An explanation of some of the problems a mother may encounter, and how to avoid or solve them.

In the Maternal Healthcare Facility: The mothers' right for her baby to stay with her after delivery to facilitate beginning breastfeeding immediately; to insist the baby not receive bottle feeding; to be informed about and refuse any drugs that may dry up breast milk; 24 hour access to the baby with the right to breastfeed at any time.

When You Leave the Maternal Healthcare Facility: The right to refuse any gifts or take-home packets, distributed by the maternal healthcare facility, that contain commercial advertising or product samples; access to breastfeeding resources in one's community.

Sounds like a good idea if you ask me. When The Bear was born in a New York City hospital, I had a strange experience the second night we were there. The nurse wouldn't let me take him out of the nursery because he had been having a spitting up problem and they wanted to keep an eye on him. I was fortunate that they were exceptionally vigilant, but I also felt compelled to feed him after a certain number of hours had passed. I asked the nurse if I could sit in the nursery to feed and she said that wasn't possible. I don't remember the reason she gave. I waddled back to my room, determined to make a stink if they didn't let me have him within the hour.

Quite honestly, I wish I could remember how this situation resolved itself. Chalk it up to post-partum fuzz. I think I eventually demanded that they let me have him. I knew it was important to keep feeding him regularly, and I was confident (second child) that I would be able to rush him back if there was a real problem.

Krueger's bill could have helped in this area since it would require "24 hour access to the baby with the right to breastfeed at any time." But let's be real, the burden would still fall on moms to speak up. That's what we as moms do after all. We advocate for our kids. It's a life long enterprise. And it starts on day one.

Nevertheless, if you live in New York, let Senator Krueger know that you support her. Give her office a call.

Bottle Versus Breast

November 01, 2006

A couple of weeks ago I got a call from a reporter, Mackenzie Carpenter, at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. She was working on a piece about the "politics" of breast feeding and bottle feeding. It was pretty cool to get her call. As a former reporter, however, I was agonizingly aware of every word I uttered during our conversation. This was the first time I was ever interviewed, and I wasn't ready for it.

I asked Mackenzie to go easy on me, and she reassured that I shouldn't worry. Today I got an email from her telling me the piece ran in yesterday's paper, but that unfortunately my quotes got cut by her editor. Oh well.

Anyway, the story's headline pretty much sums up the piece-- "Bottle vs. Breastfeeding: Cultural Confusion Engulfs Moms No Matter Which Method is Used." The basic idea is that moms face societal and personal challenges whether they breast feed or bottle feed.

Here's my take on it. As moms, we question our child rearing choices all the time. Is the baby getting enough to eat? Am I reading enough to the baby? Does he have the right toys? Should he have a play date or is it ok to just be around his older brother? Bottom line, it's all too easy to feel guilty about the choices you make, and I think breast feeding and bottle feeding are simply an easy flash point for all of that parental guilt to come to a head.

I'm not sure I said anything remotely like that when Mackenzie interviewed me. In fact, when we spoke I was so tired, and so busy breast feeding The Bear to keep him from crying, that I can hardly recall anything I said.

In any case, it was fun to talk to her on the phone. Hopefully, I'll be a bit more mentally prepared for the next time the phone rings!

Pumping and Flying Update

October 17, 2006

Update: a new rule effective August 4, 2007 does away with the limits on the amount of breast milk a mom can carry on board a plane.

********

A little update from the TSA...
I got an email this morning from the Office of Public Affairs at the Transporation Security Administration. The PR person who wrote to me wanted to add that if you are traveling with your baby, you CAN bring ice through the security checkpoint to cool the formula or breast milk you might be bringing on board. The ice exemption also applies to medications that need to be cooled.

Similac Recall

September 16, 2006

Similac has voluntary recalled hundreds of thousands of bottles of ready to feed infant formula because they may not have enough Vitamin C.

The recall is for approximately 100,000 32-ounce plastic bottles of Similac Alimentum Advance liquid formula and approximately 200,000 bottles of Similac Advance with Iron. Some hospital discharge kits are affected as well.

The problem seems to be that the bottles are missing a special layer that keeps air out. When the oxygen enters the bottle, it causes the level of vitamin C to decrease over time.

Abbott, the maker of Similac, says there have been no serious medical complaints. But the concern is that if infants drink formula without enough vitamin C for two to four weeks, they could show symptoms of vitamin C deficiency such as irritability with generalized tenderness.

Here is a news story from The New York Times.

You can find the company press release on the Similac website. Look for it at the bottom of the home page. There is a short sentence which says click here for information on the voluntary recall.

Senator Proposes Warning Label on Formula

June 15, 2006

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is proposing that formula manufacturers be required to put warning labels on formula stating the breast milk is the ideal way to feed infants. The bill also has a provision aimed at making workplaces offer accomodations to moms who need to pump or breastfeed.

Here's a link to his proposed bill. See Titles II and III. This proposal is part of a larger bill aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles for all Americans.

Government Ad Campaign Encourages Breastfeeding

June 14, 2006

The government is encouraging mothers to breastfeed with an aggressive advertising campaign. The Department of Health and Human Services' ads suggest that not breastfeeding is actually dangerous to your baby's health. One of the television ads shows a pregnant woman clutching her stomach while riding a mechanical bull in a bar. The suggestion...its risky to ride a bull, and risky to give your baby formula. The slogan of the campaign...Babies Were Born to Be Breastfed.

Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa is going one step further. He has proposed putting warning labels on cans of infant formula. Here's an article about this from The New York Times, as well as a Today Show segment that has clips from the television commercials.

MA Hospitals Say NO to Formula Freebies

May 08, 2006

If you've had a baby recently you may have gotten a gift bag on your way out of the hospital. These spiffy black totes come filled with gifts...primarily formula samples and coupons. So guess who's behind the bags...the formula companies of course.

In Massachusetts, state policy makers are debating whether to ban the bags. Meanwhile, some hospitals are opting to stop giving out the bags altogether.

Personally, I like the bags. I got one when we had The Bortski at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and I still use it. It's held up remarkably well for the past 20 months. I got another one when we had The Titty Bear at Mt. Sinai in New York City. I don't care that they've come from a company with an agenda. I save the coupons, intending to use them; and I never do. And I save the formula samples in case of emergency. Getting these bags really didn't have any impact on my decision to breastfeed or not. Simply put...it saved me from spending a ridiculous amount of money on a fancy diaper bag that would get ruined by weather and spit up.