[gethane]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8088953/

I don't know what I think of this. On one hand, that late night trip to the grocery store by the exhausted 4 week pp mommie struggling to breastfeed through a growth spurt won't be able to just swipe it into the cart, impulsively. On the other hand, how very very sad, that something so important to the lives of babies is so abused by thieves!

 

[sabros]

When I saw this topic, I thought it would be about something else (similar to the "formula should be locked up and only available by prescription" argument)

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As an aside, I remember when the AC adapter broke for my pump. I was talking with the ladies at daycare about how much it costs to replace those pumps (this was a Medela PIS), and one of the younger ones in particular was shocked. I told her compared to formula cost over time, it was still much cheaper!

 

[TiredX2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gethane I don't know what I think of this. On one hand, that late night trip to the grocery store by the exhausted 4 week pp mommie struggling to breastfeed through a growth spurt won't be able to just swipe it into the cart, impulsively. On the other hand, how very very sad, that something so important to the lives of babies is so abused by thieves!

But if it wasn't "so important to the lives of babies" it wouldn't be worth much on the black market. Only because so many people w/out enough money to buy a full supply of formula end up formula feeding is it worth anything on the "black" or "grey" markets.

 

[User101]

I just can't get too worked up over this. It makes it less conveniant, but not impossible to get.

 

[gethane]

Well I wouldn't say I was worked up over it

I just found it to be an interesting news story that has implications for breastfeeding advocacy. Haven't many of us always said that if formula was harder to get, a few more people might succeed at bfing? Isn't that the point of NOT giving bfing moms formula to take home from the hospital?

I would imagine that the formula companies would actually dislike their product under lock and key, but maybe I'm projecting.

 

[User101]

Oh, I agree with you there. It would be interesting to see the implications!

 

[CryPixie83]

Hmm when reading the title I thought maybe they were going to make it a little closer to "prescription-only". phooey.

It is nice that it will e that much less accessile though.

What really threw me for a loop was that it's used to cut drugs!! Interesting.

 

[Jadzia]

Quote:

FBI Director Robert Mueller has even linked stolen baby formula to terrorism, saying proceeds from black market sales have been used to support organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Breastfeeding fights terrorism!

:LOL

That would be a funny angle for advocacy. "Love America like you love your baby. Breastfeed" or "If you're not breastfeeding, you're with the terrorists."

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[kama'aina mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiredX2 But if it wasn't "so important to the lives of babies" it wouldn't be worth much on the black market. Only because so many people w/out enough money to buy a full supply of formula end up formula feeding is it worth anything on the "black" or "grey" markets.

T2... did you read the article? The stolen formula isn't being fed to babies. It is being sold to drug dealers and used to cut drugs.

 

[Momtwice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiredX2 But if it wasn't "so important to the lives of babies" it wouldn't be worth much on the black market. Only because so many people w/out enough money to buy a full supply of formula end up formula feeding is it worth anything on the "black" or "grey" markets.

And supposedly it is also used to cut drugs like cocaine.

LOL the poster above said the same thing. But it is ALSO sold to parents if I read the article correctly.

 

[UUMom]

Not so related, but i thought of this as I read that story. I was breastfeeding my first newborn during the Gulf War. I remember Time & Newsweek both doing stories on babies in Kuwait becomming ill and some dying because their mothers could not get formula when Iraq invaded. It was odd, because I thought that all the mothers in 'the mid east' breastfed. But it turned out, that few mother in Kuwait did. Because the citizens in Kuwait were among the richest folks on earth, the women were 'free' and servants fed the babies formula.

I dunno why i thought of this...

 

[TiredX2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kama'aina mama T2... did you read the article? The stolen formula isn't being fed to babies. It is being sold to drug dealers and used to cut drugs.

Yes I did read the article (and have read about this issue before).

As the article states:

Quote:

The high-priced item has long been an attractive target for shoplifters, who typically resell it on the black market at a reduced price or use it to cut drugs

AND

Quote:

Sometimes the formula winds up on the gray market, in which shoplifters sell it at a discount to unauthorized distributors, which in turn sell it to small stores or at flea markets, she said.

I have to assume that formula being sold on the black or grey market *is* being fed to babies. I mean, it would be quite easy to sell it on ebay and the people I know who are buying formula on ebay are buying it to feed their babies.

 

[Soxfan Mom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momtwice And supposedly it is also used to cut drugs like cocaine.

This is how feeble-minded I am about formula (and cocaine). My reaction to the quote above was, "wow, that would make the cocaine awfully watery, wouldn't it?" Then I remembered that formula is sold in powder as well as ready-to-feed.

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[kate~mom]

would someone mind cutting and pasting the article into the thread or into a p.m. to me? my explorer shuts down for some reason whenever i try to view an msnbc site. thanks!

 

[DahliaRW]

I particularly like the terrorism link! Next thing we know homeland security will be mandating that formula be under lock!

 

[kama'aina mama]

Sorry T2... I guess I didn't catch that second comment you quoted and sort of assumed that people were selling the formula (grey/black market) to the drug dealers. Thanks for clarifying.

Soxfan... that made me laugh.

 

[Greaseball]

Quote:

What really threw me for a loop was that it's used to cut drugs!! Interesting.

But why would they use something so expensive to cut? Why not use baking soda or flour?

I know some people do steal formula to feed to their babies. If more support were given to breastfeeding, formula would not be something so important to the lives of babies.

 

[Fiercemama]

Apparently formula and diapers are the top items to be stolen from grocery stores. Both are very expensive items that cut into store profits.

 

[EFmom]

My kids (who were adopted past infancy) were ff. One of the stores near me started locking up the formula due to theft. It was a royal PIA to try to find someone to come unlock the case, and I started doing most of my grocery shopping elsewhere. I guess I wasn't the only one, because eventually they stopped locking it up.

I honestly don't think it would have any impact on whether or not anyone decides to bf or ff.

 

[lactivist02]

In the City I used to live in there was a LARGE # of illegals. They were stealing the reg. Enfamil ($8.00) and relabeling it as Nutramigen ($22.00) and selling it. Can you imagine? My family has milk allergies and when my DD was hospitalized I needed to supplement my exclusively BF baby. I was an at home mom w/ no stored milk, I didnt need it LOL! I used Nutramigen for a day, so he would be safer. I'd be pissed if I had fed him reg ABM intead of Nutramigen. Thankfully my PED gave me a sample so I didn't have to BUY ABM. LOL!!!

Michelle

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