The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition held a demonstration at the State House on Friday, May 12 at 10 am. We gathered on Mother's Day weekend to tell the Administration to keep formula marketing out of our state's hospitals. On May 8, Gov. Romney's spokesman was quoted in the Boston Globe as defending the Administration's actions to allow hospitals to market baby formula with "free" gift bags from formula companies. He mistakenly characterized proponents of the restriction as a "vocal minority" of breastfeeding advocates who "seek to punish" mothers who formula feed. On the contrary, we are concerned that mothers who chose to formula feed will end up paying an extra $700 a year in name-brand formula marketed by the hospitals, rather than buying store brands.

Rather than a "vocal minority," we are part of a broad coalition of esteemed national and statewide organizations of physicians, health professionals and agencies. Our supporters include: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Public Health Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Government Accountability Office, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Massachusetts Public Health Association, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, the Surgeon General, and the World Health Organization. All of these organizations oppose hospital distribution of formula discharge bags, based on solid scientific evidence that this practice hurts mothers and babies. View exerpts of their statements

With these leading organizations behind us, we think the Romney administration should base its public policy on scientific evidence and public health recommendations. In ignoring these recommendations, the Administration gives the unfortunate appearance of putting drug industry profits ahead of family values, consumers, taxpayers, and above the health of mothers and children. Because formula feeding is linked with significantly increased health care costs, it is not fiscally responsible to defend hospital marketing of baby formula.

Between March and May 2006, MBC has collected over 3,500 signatures from across the country urging the Governor to implement the Public Health Council's regulations on formula marketing in hospitals, including over 1,200 from Massachusetts residents. Passed after extensive public hearings last summer, the rule would stop hospitals from marketing infant formula to new mothers. The Romney Administration put the regulation on hold in February, and a decision is expected in late May.

Hospital-based formula marketing co-opts health care providers. Our messages on May 9 focuses on putting family values first, above special interests and drug company profits. This Mother's Day weekend, we spoke in one voice: Hospitals should market health, and nothing else.

Thanks to all who made our demonstration a success! We were very effective in conveying our message that Romney is putting special interests above public health and family values.


                   
       Congratulations, it's a consumer!            Profits is not a family value

                   
         Gov. Romney, I'm not for sale

                   
     Why are hospitals marketing baby      '$pecial Interests' is not a Family Value!
      formula? Give the bag the boot!

                                   
Gov Romney, why do you care more about Drug Company Profit$ than My CHILD'S Health? Gov. Romney, don't place Corporate Interests above Public Health!