Records and interviews show that the U.S. government repeatedly used its muscle to advance the interests of large baby formula companies while thwarting the efforts of Thailand and other developing countries to safeguard children’s health.
foreign aid and health officials … have long supported breastfeeding across the globe. They call it “one of the highest returns on investment of any development activity” because of its well-documented benefits for babies’ health and cognitive growth.
Actually, the scientific evidence for the advantages of breastmilk versus formula is remarkably thin.
Sure, it’s eyebrow-raising for the US to meddle in other countries’ public health policy-making. I’d argue that the US meddles too much in other countries’ policy-making, period, not just in public health. But the unspoken implication behind this article is that allowing formula companies to market their products is causing some kind of public health catastrophe, and that claim is just not scientifically defensible.
Actually, the scientific evidence for the advantages of breastmilk versus formula is remarkably thin.
Sure, it’s eyebrow-raising for the US to meddle in other countries’ public health policy-making. I’d argue that the US meddles too much in other countries’ policy-making, period, not just in public health. But the unspoken implication behind this article is that allowing formula companies to market their products is causing some kind of public health catastrophe, and that claim is just not scientifically defensible.