Black Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding...It's a Beautiful Thing

Send your breastfeeding photos to me at info (at) mommytoo (dot) com.

Ties That Bind: WIC and the Big Three
Monday, May 21, 2007

Since I started this blog, I have been heavily in favor of WIC initiatives to get more poor moms breastfeeding. In fact, I've reported several instances where some of these new initiatives are actually working, and even an instance where it's working so well black children are getting rickets since breast milk contains no vitamin D. It is with the below information, however, that makes me angry at how wrong I've been all along.

Chris Edwards, a CATO Institute scholar and top expert on federal and state/local tax and budget issues, blogged about a recent article in the International Journal of Breastfeeding: WIC's promotion of infant formula in the United States by University of Hawaii professor, George Kent which I also read.

Truly, I've never been one to know how WIC works and I certainly never understood the close ties between WIC and the three largest infant formula companies: Mead Johonson, Ross Laboratories, and Carnation. I've now learned that:

In 2005, only .6% of the federal WIC budget was set aside for breastfeeding promotion at $34 million. (That sounds like a lot, but not when the total budget is 5 billion dollars.).
In fact, the total numbers of WIC mothers who breastfeed have gone up, but so too have the numbers for non-WIC mothers.
In 2001, WIC received 1.4 billion dollars in rebates from the infant formula companies, which allowed 2 million more recipients of WIC to be served.
WIC supplies about half of all infant formula in the United States.

What this says to me: The federal government has little interest in seriously promoting breastfeeding to poor and minority moms because it simply does not bode well for its bottom line. In effect, by WIC supporting, in large part, formula-feeding, doling out free formula vouchers and receiving rebates from formula companies in return, they are supporting, even encouraging, the inferior health of minority and poor infants and women. Even though, on paper, WIC encourages and "adheres" to the American Academy of Pediatrics ' Policy Statement on “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk” (2005), their actions, as stated in Kent's article, overwhelmingly prove otherwise.

Labels: breastfeeding mamas, commentary, formula, WIC

posted by Jennifer James @ 5:54 AM,

7 Comments:

At May 21, 2007 10:11 AM, Eilat said...: The tragedy is that these poor women and babies in general can't afford health care. What are they to do when their baby gets sick at least three times more often then if they were breast feeding?
It might seem like generosity when WIC gives out free/subsidized formula, but all they are doing is setting these women and children up for illness and poor health down the road. So tragic.
At May 22, 2007 8:13 AM, Jennifer James said...: You're absolutely right and it's a shame.
At May 22, 2007 1:27 PM, chilliemama said...: Hi Jennifer,

First off, let me tell you how excited I am to have discovered your blog! It's been so fun for me to read your back-loggs - or should I say back-blogs:-) I really appreciate your well-thought out topics and analysis.

The topic of WIC is of particular interest to me because I actually was on WIC when pregnant and later as a breastfeeding mother. I was assigned a breastfeeding peer counselor which was a wonderful support system to me. Instead of giving free formula, they provided me with coupons for milk, beans, peanut butter, and other food products. When I would go to the office, they would ALWAYS commend me for breastfeeding.

That said, there is a major disconnect between saying "we support breastfeeding, but here's your free formula". Talk about a mixed message... I was completely blown away by the statistic that WIC provides half the formula in the U.S. today.

Eilat was right. It's a tragedy and a shame. And it all comes down to the almighty dollar. Think of the people who are profiting off of the health of these precious babies.
At May 23, 2007 10:55 AM, Jennifer James said...: Hi Chilliemama: Thanks for commenting. I'm glad you found my blog and enjoy it! I'm also glad you breastfed, despite the formula culture of WIC.

I think there are two mindsets at work -- local, state and federal WIC. A lot of the workers who meet with moms every day probably would prefer to serve more mothers, like yourself, who chose breastfeeding. The bottom line is they keep their jobs largely on the backs of mothers who opt for formula.
At May 26, 2007 1:21 AM, Trina said...: Hi everyone, I am new to this blog ( and blogging in general) so please forgive any errors. I have long suspected a link between hospitals and formula manufacturers. With my second child (I breastfed both of my children) the night nurse pushed really hard for me to give my daughter formula, "She's hungry, let me give her a bottle". I was stunned as I had given clear instructions to bring her in to nurse exclusively. I understand offering a bottle to a weary new mother, but I was explicit in my instructions, and the nurses only did this in the wee hours of the morning when I was alone, and tired with no one to intervene. This never happened during the day or when anyone else was in the room. Thankfully I had the knoweledge and forsight not to offend them, but graciously declined and thanked them for their concern. I needed these women to help me as I had just literally pushed out a new human being! And I had good insurance and was at a reputable hospital (acknowledging the dismal plight of health care in general!)! We need more doulas and breastfeeding advocates to inform and empower our black mothers...thanks for letting me vent....
At May 29, 2007 6:12 PM, (((((HUGS))))) sandi said...: I live in an impoverished area, and the only thing I can come up with start a LLL chapter in the SS building on the next block from me. I haven't done it, as with four children of my own I'm worried about being able to get it all done. Now I'm feeling selfish! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
At June 1, 2007 9:25 AM, ebony said...: All I could think while reading this post and the comments was, "Wow." I have used WIC for 3 out of 5 of my pregnancies and I have never been pushed to bottle feed or breast feed. I was given information on both and told that "breast is best", but then they stepped back and let me make my own decision. The walls in the office are covered with pro-breast material, including classes, etc. Instead of formula coupons, I received coupons for milk, carrots, etc. When it proved that I could not breast feed my 3 year old, they did everything they could to help me before I stopped, got me a free breast pump, individual assistance from a nurse, everything to help me continue nursing. I'm surprised by others experiences. Am I just lucky to have a good office where I'm at, is my experience the norm or an execption?