MA Formula in Gift Bags Ban Put on Hold

[kdabbler]

So we have three months to write our letters and make ourselves heard. This is a better outcome than what I feared: an outright repeal of the ban.

Here's the Boston Globe article on it:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...s_put_on_hold/

One of the arguments from another list I subscribe to asks, what is wrong with formula company gift bag giveaways, "They include nice things in it." She also implied that without the formula companies, no gift bag is given at all. It was nice of the Globe author to include the fact that gift bags are still given away despite the exclusion of formula companies. (I delivered at BMC myself.)

Once again, here is the contact information for the MA Public Health Council members: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2te...s&csid=Eeohhs2

[MA mommy]

I emailed ch 7, 5, 4, 25 and 56 about this. Only ch 7 has replied so far.

[CathMac]

If I am not mistaken, Massachusetts Governor Romney's wife Ann has MS. And while it is not one of the better known health benefits of breastfeeding, there may be a protective effect against MS.

I couldn't find a recent scientific study, I did find info on one Italian study in the early to mid 90s. I don't know how persuasive Romney would find that.

However, if anyone is inclined to write to him directly they might want to reference the well known Sears BF book. Here is a link to relevant excerpts from the book and one quote ...

The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child by Martha Sears, R. N., William Sears, M. D.

http://www.enotalone.com/article/3603.html

"Breast milk's role in the development of high-quality myelin and brain cells may play a role in the prevention of multiple sclerosis in adulthood. Research has shown that breastfeeding has a dose-related effect on the risk of multiple sclerosis. The longer the duration of breastfeeding, the lower the risk. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are caused by myelin breakdown, and researchers speculate that a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in the myelin sheath makes the sheath more vulnerable to premature degeneration. Another explanation for breastfeeding's protective effect against degenerative nervous-system diseases is that the lower concentration of DHA in the brain-cell membranes of formula-fed infants could over a long period of time lead to defective brain-cell membranes, which allow easier entry of infectious or toxic substances into the brain cells."

~Cath

[veganf]

Wow, crazy that this even has to be an issue. I've written my emails, but I wish there was more I could do.

- Krista

[westernmamomma]

Off to write my emails! It may be a bit redundant given the different attitude toward bg'ing out her in western MA, but I'm going to collect the email addy's for the tv stations out here too, though I have to be honest, I haven't heard mention of it once on any of the news programs.:

[dynamohumm6]

I haven't seen it on any news station, either. I'm off to write my letters.

I'm also curious why people care so much about those gift bags. Mine was a decent diaper bag, but I threw it out after I tried to rip the Enfamil label of it and all the lining fell out. :
I think it had a sample of dreft, and three samples of 1-time use huggies washes, a bunch of crappy, not-quite-factual breastfeeding info (supplied by - duh - ENFAMIL) and a ream of flyers for subscriptions to various parenting mags. Just more crap for me to throw out later.

edit: my letter

Hello,
I am a mother of two, and I am in full support of the ban of formula-sponsored gift bags being distributed at hospitals. The gift bag marketing program - and let's be clear, this is a MARKETING program, not a benevolent congratulatory guft - undermines the fact that breastfeeding is better.

Governor Rmoney states that "'I think that the mother should have the right to decide whether she is going to use infant formula or breast-feed," Romney said. ''And allowing her to make that decision is best [done] by letting her have the formula, and if she wants to use it, fine."

I fail to understand how stopping the promotional give-away of formula samples in hospitals is akin to not providing a mother the choice of how to feed her child. If a new mother wants to formula feed, I'm sure she is well aware that she can buy formula at virtually any store in the state. The hospital gift bag of free samples of formula is nothing more than a marketing ploy aimed at inexperienced mothers, and it's shameful that our hospitals would knowingly send a new mother off, armed with a bag of goodies that are already setting her up to fail at breastfeeding, which is irrefutably the best health choice for both baby and mother.

Why not send fill the bag with different brands of breastpads? Flyers for books and contact information for local breastfeeding support? Instead, with my son at Mt. Auburn Hospital, I got a phamplet on breastfeeding (published by ENFAMIL) that was filled with misinformation, and was little more than an advertisement for their formula--along with the prerequisite jug of formula, which promptly got thrown out whedn I got home. Sure, the diaper bag was nice, but I threw that out too, after trying to rip the giant ENFAMIL badge off it and having all the lining fall out. Two samples of dreft and Huggies baby wash and a truckload of flyers for Parenting magazine aren't worth it.
If the formula companies want to advertise, fine, but keep their marketing ploys out of MA hospitals.

Regards,
Emma T.

(I spellchecked before I actually sent it, )

[CathMac]

Emmy,
Great letter. Who did you actually send it to?

One minor point I don't think there is anything stopping Medela, Ameda Hollister, Lansinoh, etc. from putting their own marketing "goodie bag" together. In addition to fighting the repeal of the formula ban perhaps a letter campaign directed at some of these companies is in order.
~Cath

[dynamohumm6]

I sent it to the globe, and next week I will print out copies and send it to every member of the council
I am in the midst of moving (and procrastinating, it would seem) and don't have my printer hooked up right now, otherwise I'd send them off today. The formula bags have annoyed the everloving crap out of me ever since giving birth to my daughter at B&W in 1999 and getting like 3 different formula samples from them, and then having a terribly misinformed nurse shoving my daughter's head onto my breast (before my LLLI certified mother came back in the room and kicked her out, LOL). (not particularly related to the formula bags, )

I agree about the "breastfeeding" companies putting together a marketing campaign. Maybe a letter campaign to them urging them to counter this would be a good move.
Great idea!

[kdabbler]

I think it's a great idea to get the breastfeeding supply companies in on this.
Sorry, I'm a links and surf queen so I found some addresses and contact info:

Customer Service
Lansinoh Laboratories Inc.
333 North Fairfax Street
Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Medela, Inc. (USA), 1101 Corporate Dr., McHenry, IL 60050
Phone [phone] or 815-363-1166

Alan F. Herbert, President
Ameda
Hollister Incorporated
Customer Service Department
2000 Hollister Drive
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
Customer service 1-800-323-4060

Another company is Gerber. Does Gerber own or are they owned by the formula companies?

Earth's Best Consumer Relations
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
4600 Sleepytime Dr.
Boulder, CO 80301
1-800-434-4246 8am-4pm PST.

[Janice in Canada]

I just wanted to point out that, from the point of view of business strategy, it may not be as easy for Lanisoh or Medela or other "non-formula" manufacturers to sample their items in gift bags.

Formula has a HUGE profit margin, and is a "commodity" that wil be purchased over and over again. It is also very difficult for a normal person to determine any differences between formula (you't can see or taste which is better) and you would have to be a nutrition scientist to really understand the ingrediants and make a judgement for yourself. So consumers really rely on marketing information to make their decision - and that all sounds the same, pretty much, eh? So it has been shown that, the brand the hospital gives, or that you have samples of, has a very high likelihood of becoming the one you will use. That's why formula samples and gift bags are SO important to the marketing strategy of formula co's. They aren't going to let go of that without a fight.

Pumps are high cost, but you really only buy one, and you will go through a different process to buy one. Pads are low cost, and easy to switch, and you don't really spend alot on them. So it really is not a cost-effective marketing strategy for them to sponsor diaper bags or give away alot of marketing items to promote their products. Not in any way like formula co's.

Just want to explain this subltety in marketing strategy, so you will understand why these companies cannot step in to take over the gift bag supply, at least not in the same way as formula companies do.

Janice
(sales and marketing professional in my previous life!)

[westernmamomma]

Originally Posted by dynamohumm6

I haven't seen it on any news station, either. I'm off to write my letters.

I'm also curious why people care so much about those gift bags. Mine was a decent diaper bag, but I threw it out after I tried to rip the Enfamil label of it and all the lining fell out. :
I think it had a sample of dreft, and three samples of 1-time use huggies washes, a bunch of crappy, not-quite-factual breastfeeding info (supplied by - duh - ENFAMIL) and a ream of flyers for subscriptions to various parenting mags. Just more crap for me to throw out later.

edit: my letter

Hello,
I am a mother of two, and I am in full support of the ban of formula-sponsored gift bags being distributed at hospitals. The gift bag marketing program - and let's be clear, this is a MARKETING program, not a benevolent congratulatory guft - undermines the fact that breastfeeding is better.

Governor Rmoney states that "'I think that the mother should have the right to decide whether she is going to use infant formula or breast-feed," Romney said. ''And allowing her to make that decision is best [done] by letting her have the formula, and if she wants to use it, fine."

I fail to understand how stopping the promotional give-away of formula samples in hospitals is akin to not providing a mother the choice of how to feed her child. If a new mother wants to formula feed, I'm sure she is well aware that she can buy formula at virtually any store in the state. The hospital gift bag of free samples of formula is nothing more than a marketing ploy aimed at inexperienced mothers, and it's shameful that our hospitals would knowingly send a new mother off, armed with a bag of goodies that are already setting her up to fail at breastfeeding, which is irrefutably the best health choice for both baby and mother.

Why not send fill the bag with different brands of breastpads? Flyers for books and contact information for local breastfeeding support? Instead, with my son at Mt. Auburn Hospital, I got a phamplet on breastfeeding (published by ENFAMIL) that was filled with misinformation, and was little more than an advertisement for their formula--along with the prerequisite jug of formula, which promptly got thrown out whedn I got home. Sure, the diaper bag was nice, but I threw that out too, after trying to rip the giant ENFAMIL badge off it and having all the lining fall out. Two samples of dreft and Huggies baby wash and a truckload of flyers for Parenting magazine aren't worth it.
If the formula companies want to advertise, fine, but keep their marketing ploys out of MA hospitals.

Regards,
Emma T.

(I spellchecked before I actually sent it, )

Would it be ok for me to use a varition of this letter when I send it to the local reps here and to tv stations? It's so well written I don't think I could say it better!