Milk & Money
Fri Aug 31, 2007 at 07:39:07 AM PDT
Four years ago, I got wind of a new ad campaign by the Department of Health and Human Services promoting breastfeeding. The new national campaign, was controversial and featured what some thought were scare tactics in order to improve the country’s abysmal breastfeeding rates. Soon after the ads were developed, I heard through the grapevine that the formula industry had been pushing hard for the ads to be changed, citing reasons such as inducing guilt in new mothers. So, the ads were changed to a “more friendly images of dandelions and cherry-topped ice cream scoops, to dramatize how breast-feeding could help avert respiratory problems and obesity” as a direct result of the formula industry’s influence.
Some of what has transpired has come to light in an article on MSNBC.com today.
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.
Those who were for the ads saw this as a public health issue and wanted to improve breastfeeding rates. The formula industry obviously saw this as a threat to their bottom line:
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.
Another fascinating element to this story is how those in the HHS have repeatedly ignored facts based in science:
But other current and former HHS officials say the muting of the ads was not the only episode in which HHS missed a chance to try to raise the breast-feeding rate. In April, according to officials and documents, the department chose not to promote a comprehensive analysis by its own Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of multiple studies on breast-feeding, which generally found it was associated with fewer ear and gastrointestinal infections, as well as lower rates of diabetes, leukemia, obesity, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome.
I’m not looking to start a debate on formula vs. breastmilk. Instead, I’m questioning the policy of the HHS. Corporate interests have had way too much influence on our government policies for far too long. Just look at the debate on global warming. Funny... but when money’s involved, it seems that the government can justify anything.
What do you think, MotherTalkers? Do you think that the those involved in the HHS should be investigated for stifling the national breastfeeding campaign?
