Who is EWG? What in the world were they thinking?

[TattoMomK]

http://www.ewg.org/files/EWG_babyguide.pdf

Hmmmm -- it says at the top of the link to the guide to bottle buying:

Breast milk is best, but whether you’re feeding breastmilk or formula in a bottle, use this
guide to feed your baby safely.

BUT in the actual recommendations for each part of the bottle it says:

The soft plastic liners may leach chemicals into formula, especially
when heated.

which the American Den-
tal Association recommends avoiding when
reconstituting formula.

Powdered
formula is a better bet.

Microwaving can heat unevenly and cause
chemicals to leach from plastic bottles into
formula.

Not ONE mention about breast milk in these containers. :mad:

Don't even get me STARTED on the formula-buying guide. Hello??? NESTLE???

Who is EWG anyway? Why are they a dot-org?

[nevaehsmommy]

looks like an environmental rights group

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by TattoMomK

Don't even get me STARTED on the formula-buying guide. Hello??? NESTLE???

Nestle formula is not on the boycott list. All their other products are.

Originally Posted by TattoMomK

Who is EWG anyway?

The mission of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. EWG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles.

Originally Posted by TattoMomK

Why are they a dot-org?

Cuz they bought the domain. Anyone can buy a dot org.

[TattoMomK]

I know anyone can buy a dot-org, just wondered who they are -- and you answered my question. (I have precious few moments of computer time with four kids)

Seriously though, I was just surprised that they would say breast feeding is best -- BUT formula formula formula formula formula later. As we are known to beat the dead horse with: breastfed babies use bottles too!

[jessjgh1]

perhaps they would change the wording if they got an email about it....

[mzfern]

Don't have time for a full reply right now but EWG is one of the good guys. They're behind the Skin Deep (cosmetic and skin product safety database). If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say the formula talk is because those who formula feed need to know what's in there.

EWG has been doing the research on BPA leaching. Just about everything we know about the hazards of BPA is because of them.

[turtlewomyn]

It looks like that is mostly geared toward BPA issues and how to lower the risk of BPA in infant feeding. It seems like the formula buying is all geared toward buying formula that is less likely to be contaminated with BPA.

[acannon]

I do wish they had included something in there about heating bottles of breastmilk and defrosting breastmilk properly. It only covered formula. I also had a problem with the formula buying guide. Nestle is not the best kind. They should have put Similac first. Babies, like my LO, can't handle Nestle powdered formula. It makes them sick. I've given him Similac prepared formula and he did fine with that. He didn't drink that much, and drank even less of the Nestle stuff, but at least Similac didn't make him throw up. It says that on the can, but I think it bears repeating, because, honestly, who takes the time to read the can? I sure didn't until he got sick. I didn't think there was any need to.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Equuskia

Nestle formula is not on the boycott list. All their other products are.

That's absurd.

If the point of the boycott is "But we would encourage you to boycott all Nestlé products until the company stops promoting its babymilk." then I would assume that formula's not on the boycott list because it's the point for the boycott.

[paquerette]

Amanda, I think it's very individual what babies will tolerate what formula. Weren't they just commenting on which ones have less BPA? Not overall which is best?

[Sugermama]

Originally Posted by paquerette

Amanda, I think it's very individual what babies will tolerate what formula. Weren't they just commenting on which ones have less BPA? Not overall which is best?

Exactly Nestle has the less BPA so it went first on their list. That guide is for bottle feeding with formula, it plainly says EWG’s Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula right across the top. EWG are the good guy's and I don't understand why anyone would become offended with the wording when it plainly states that it is a guide for formula feeding.

[acannon]

Then why did they include the part about breastmilk? That's confusing.

[Sugermama]

Originally Posted by acannon

Then why did they include the part about breastmilk? That's confusing.

Anything about formula always includes the standard disclaimer about breast milk being best. It is even on formula cans.

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

That's absurd.

If the point of the boycott is "But we would encourage you to boycott all Nestlé products until the company stops promoting its babymilk." then I would assume that formula's not on the boycott list because it's the point for the boycott.

The point of the boycott is to protest the way Nestlé promotes its formula, not the mere existence of it. IBFAN knows that some babies will need formula for whatever reason, and wants safe products for these babies, while at the same time, doing away with the unethical marketing of formula to breastfeeding mothers. The boycott is not to protest the fact that Nestlé makes formula, else we'd all be boycotting Ross Labs, Abbott, Mead Johnson, etc as well.