Lobbying for Babykillers

by Sheldon Rampton — September 7, 2007 - 2:22pm
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Babies that are not breast fed suffer higher rates of health problems including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, obesity, high cholesterol and asthma. Unfortunately, many parents are still unaware of these risks, thanks to the infant formula industry. In 2003, the industry hired a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and former agriculture secretary Clayton Yeutter, who lobbied the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to yank an attention-grabbing advertising campaign that would have warned of the risks. Yeutter told HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson the ads should be pulled because they would create "guilty feelings" in women who fail to breastfeed. HHS replaced the original ads with a watered-down advertising campaign, which was so ineffective that breast-feeding rates actually dropped during the period when it was broadcast. In an interview with PR Week, Mardi Mountford of the International Formula Council disputed accusations of undue industry influence.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, August 31, 2007

Comments

Sometimes Two Wrongs Do Make a Right

Submitted by Pani113 on September 11, 2007 - 1:47pm.

It may be that the infant formula industry is only motivated by greed. It may be that Thomson only cares about protecting their interests. BUT, headline grabbing, fear mongering ads DO create guilt. It is so sad that these alleged health crusaders just don't seem to get that! They are motivated by the same simplistic notions and internal conflicts that drive fundamentalistic Christians.

I don't know if this was the same situation as Richard Carmona's ( one ofthe worst surgeon generals the US has ever had) needles and respirators ad, but it sounds like it is in the same vein. That concept was absurd! It would have either scared some moms to death, or turned off others completely with its overstatement. Or course, Carmoron tried to convince us obesity is a great threat than terrorism. Not only is that complete bull, it follows a long line of counterproductive scare tactics surgeon generals have been using since the 1950s. I am getting sick to death of my tax dollars wasted on those who have no clue what does and does not motivate people! And what makes things worse. Geez, can't they take psych 101!

Sometimes Two Wrongs Do Make a Right

Submitted by Pani113 on September 11, 2007 - 1:47pm.

It may be that the infant formula industry is only motivated by greed. It may be that Thomson only cares about protecting their interests. BUT, headline grabbing, fear mongering ads DO create guilt. It is so sad that these alleged health crusaders just don't seem to get that! They are motivated by the same simplistic notions and internal conflicts that drive fundamentalistic Christians.

I don't know if this was the same situation as Richard Carmona's ( one ofthe worst surgeon generals the US has ever had) needles and respirators ad, but it sounds like it is in the same vein. That concept was absurd! It would have either scared some moms to death, or turned off others completely with its overstatement. Or course, Carmoron tried to convince us obesity is a great threat than terrorism. Not only is that complete bull, it follows a long line of counterproductive scare tactics surgeon generals have been using since the 1950s. I am getting sick to death of my tax dollars wasted on those who have no clue what does and does not motivate people! And what makes things worse. Geez, can't they take psych 101!