Formula Companies & Breastfeeding

Ads started running in fall 2003 to promote breastfeeding by the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign, which was created to carry out the recommendations of the US Department of Health and Human Services. However, the formula industry representatives voiced concerns regarding this campaign and was criticized for being negative, critical of formula and for making formula-feeders feel guilty.

Additionally, the formula industry representatives allegedly contacted members of Congress to voice their opposition to the campaign. The formula industry continues to put pressure to delay and dilute the breastfeeding campaign and have written a letter to the director of the Ad Council criticizing the campaign. Regardless, the Ad Council is intent on launching the campaign.

If you are interested in supporting the breastfeeding campaign, you can write a letter to Secretary Tommy Thompson and the Department of Health & Human Services and insist that the campaign not be further delayed and that the content and message not be weakened.

Honorable Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary - Dept of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20201
202.619.0257
877-696-6775 (toll free)

In addition, you can write a letter or call Peggy Conlon, President of the Ad Council showing your support for the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign.

The Ad Council
261 Madison Ave, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
212.922.1500
comments@adcouncil.org

Information for this article was obtained from www.mothering.com