News & Events

  

SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING, 

Abbot Formula company not in compliance with the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes

PLEASE read this letter below and respond.

BABY’S WORLD WIDE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

 

Dear Friends,

 

People in the Middle East supported us recently in a Canadian action to make Abbott formula company’s cross-Canada webcasts scientific and in compliance with the WHO Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (The Code).  Presentations at formula company sponsored events are notoriously a marketing tactic, are unscientific and violate The Code.  Abbott is one of the biggest formula companies and one of the worst violators of the Code. This was the first time, worldwide, that a formula company planned event complied with the Code. Letter writing focused on the international researchers who were scheduled to present at the 20 webcasts Abbott had planned for January 18, 2012. The researchers were urged to be ethical and present only scientific materials.  The world was watching and the speakers complied!  They were completely scientific and admitted that there were no studies showing that adding probiotics and luetin to formula improved infant health (Abbott has been promoting the importance of these additives in their "new"

Similac Advance Formula), there was no mention of Abbott or Similac (Abbott’s formula) and most of the speakers spoke about breastfeeding.  This was a major win for Canada and the world.

 

 Now it is our turn to support the Middle East.

 

Some of you have already written letters demanding the Abbott formula company withdraw their new formula, Similac Total Comfort that is being marketed in the Middle East as a "Multi-purpose drug to cure many conditions including diarrhea and constipation". Abbott is also distributing powdered samples of Similac Total Comfort formula that are not sterile and could contain e-coli and enterobacter sakazakii.

 

Dr. Khalid Iqbal, Neonatologist and IBCLC, is spearheading the campaign against Abbott in the Middle East.  For those of you who have already written letters, Dr. Khalid has written to say how much he appreciates the international support. Recently, he wrote to Abbott with his concerns of unethical and unscientific claims.  Abbott’s (January 29,2012) response was:

 

"Abbott supports infant nutrition and advocates breastfeeding as the first choice for infants.  The                    company is dedicated to supporting mothers and for many years has demonstrated commitment

 to the nutritional health of infants.  All Abbott nutritional products follow and comply with local

 regulations on nutritional claims".

 

Abbott’s response is full of lies. 

 

Every country in the Middle East has endorsed the Code and several Middle East countries have enacted the Code into Law.  In February 2012,  Abbott said that Canada was not a signatory to the Code.  This is a lie. Canada was a signatory in 1981. Abbott says they abide by the Code. This is  also a lie. The International Breastfeeding Action Network, (IBFAN), Code Documentation Centre has documented pages of Abbott’s unethical and unscientific formula claims that violate the Code.

 

Abbott’s January 25, 2012 report to shareholder states: "Abbott’s nutritional business is set to grow in the high single digits in 2012 and their target is (growth of more than) 20% in 2015".  Abbott states that the US market for infant nutrition is slightly declining, (yeah!) but Abbott says they will be targeting emerging markets (boo!)   Abbott, CEO Miles White earns more than $25 million per year.

 

STOP ABBOTT.  SHOW MILES WHITE, CEO OF ABBOTT THAT THE WORLD STANDS TOGETHER AND WILL NOT TOLERATE ABBOTT’S UNETHICAL AND UNSCIENTIFIC ADVERTISING AND ABBOTT’S CONTINUED VIOLATION OF THE WHO CODE.

 

WE HAVE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IS BEHIND US. WHAT ABBOTT DOES IN ONE COUNTRY THEY WILL TRY TO DO IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. I JUST READ A FEBRUARY 8, 2012 ABBOTT PRESS RELEASE: SIMILAC-SIMPLY-SMART BABY BOTTLE (NIPPLE IS DESIGNED FOR FEEDING BETWEEN BREAST AND BOTTLE) IS NOW ON STORE SHELVES IN THE USA.  

 

Your letters can be very short.  Abbott knows exactly what they are doing.  They are trying to increase their bottom line.  They are not interested in infant health. When babies fed Abbott’s Similac formula get sick they sell pediolyte and medications to make them "better".

 

 I am asking you to send one BRIEF power packed email that will reach many Abbott names and many groups across the world. Sorry for asking you to type in so many names (hope I have them all right) but I believe the world needs to know what Abbott is up to  Please also send to your own contacts and groups who are interested in protecting breastfeeding worldwide.

 

We do not have an email address for CEO Miles White so please put the names below on the "To" line:

 

and please cc

kitfeed@gmail.com (Dr. Khalid)

ibfanpg@tm.net.my (IBFAN head office)

sarah.amin@Waba.or.my (WABA head office)

marshalact@aol.com (National Alliance for Breastfeeding Action – USA)

info@babymilkaction (IBFAN UK)

rebecca.norton@gifa.org (GIFA Switzerland)

ibfanswd@realnet.co.sz (IBFAN Africa)

webmaster@ifanz-ibfan (IBFAN New Zealand)

Consint@consint.org (Consumers International – London)

 

On the subject line: please write Attention Mr. Miles White, CEO of Abbott

 

Please send me a copy of your email so I can monitor interest but do not cc me.  Also please email me if you have any questions. renhefti@telus.net

 

On behalf of the mothers and babies who are trying to breastfeed, many, many thanks,

 

Renee Hefti – Graham

RN, Lactation Consultant, Vancouver, Canada

 

 

 

 

May 5th is International Day of the Midwife,

and the Province of BC announced that May 5th is now

"British Columbia Midwives’ Day"!

 

 

Support Midwifery in BC

 

 

British Columbia’s midwives and their supporters are working together to raise awareness with the provincial government about the important role midwives play in providing maternity care. As a supporter of midwives you can help: it’s as easy as sending a letter. Hearing from concerned members of the community and from people who have been positively affected by midwife care is a powerful way to convince MLA’s that they should support the work that midwives do.

Visit the MABC website for information about the letter writing campaign, how to write a letter, how to find your MLA and how else you can show your support for midwifery in BC.

www.bcmidwives.com

I Love BC Midwives bumber sticker available at our office.

 

 

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Sept 1st 2011 launch of a website promoting women’s ability to give birth

One World Birth

 

November is Midwifery Month!

check back in October to find a list of free workshops to attend in Nov.