Looking for historical information on the push to cows milk

[paula444four]

Hi!

Thought I would post here because I am looking for information on when / how / why there was the big push to cows milk at 12 months of age? I am definitely suspicious of the dairy industry ..but cant seem to find any written historical data. Just seems odd to me that most Drs encourage and downright push their breastfeeding mamas to wean and move to cows milk if not before then definitely at 1 year of age. WHY????? So bizarre. Please help me with info and links if you know of any.

I appreciate your time.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Milk Money & Madness is a classic in the field

http://www.amazon.com/Milk-Money-Mad.../dp/0897894073

[Turkish Kate]

Also check out Rima Apple's Perfect Motherhood.

[birdie22]

It's been a while since I read it, but you might check out Marion Nestle's Food Politics.

She talks about how dairy industry lobbyists (and other groups too) persuaded the USDA to recommend eating more and more of their product.

[honeybunch2k8]

^Yep, that's what I was going to say. It's mostly about lobbying. The marketing has worked so well people think human breast milk is nasty but don't think twice about consuming the milk of another species. How bout they lobby for something else like on-site childcare or longer maternity leaves so women can breastfeed longer? Nvm that doesn't make people rich.

ETA: I think in the China Study the author talked about lobbyists and how they change the food pyramid and eating habits.

12 months is the time when kids start walking and talking,and there is a cultural taboo against breastfeeding them. Some even consider it incestuous. *shakes head*

[mama24-7]

I don't know anything historical on it other than 12 months is when they used to stop recommending formula. Now that they have all the "toddler formulas" I imagine some are recommending that after the 12 months of formula. So when you look at it in that light, weaning at a year & pushing cow's milk is actually a formula feeding standard.

And, I was going to recommend Milk, Money & Madness too.

Good luck!
Sus