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We need your support!
The Mission
To provide USDA-certified, nutrient-rich human milk to infants, made possible through community donations to fund our state-of-the-art milk bank lab.
WE SEEK
truth and an honest examination of the history, challenges, and systemic racism that occurs when an African American woman gives birth in an American hospital, including race targeted marking of formula, unequal distribution of breastfeeding resources, and general disparities in proper healthcare and treatment.
WE HELP
to create equitable care for all mothers and instill a degree of trust in the medical system, regardless of one’s complexion, race, or economic status. For too long, different ethic groups of humans have been treated medically different and subjected to ‘scientific’ experimentation even though we are all human.
the honest truth
ABOUT MARKETING INFANT FORMULA
The U.S. continues its opposition to breastfeeding by not adopting 'The Code'
We lobby for the United States to take real concrete action and join all other countries in the world to adopt WHO’s International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. The Code protects mothers and babies against aggressive and inappropriate marketing of infant formula by prohibiting free samples and direct consumer advertising. We unite public health entities to hold marketers of infant formula accountable to The Code and seek to publicly disclose and report on violations of The Code policy.
WE SERVE
our community as a forum in which oppressive racial practices in healthcare are identified and resolved through political advocacy, medical rights reform, and continuing education training programs. African American women are nine times more likely to be offered formula by hospitals than women of other races.
WE FIGHT
to have the United States of America adopt the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. Established in 1981 by UNICEF and adopted by most developed countries of the world.
Hearing the Surgeon General's Call to Action for Breastfeeding
It is medically proven that breastfeeding provides the most complete source of nourishment for an infant. We seek to improve breastfeeding knowledge and success rates for all women – while focusing on women of color, locally and nationwide. We provide breastfeeding support, guidance and access to nutritional and financial services. Currently, only 25% of infants in the United States are exclusively breastfed at six months, for African-American infants, it’s only 15% of infants. It’s estimated that 20% of children never receive breast milk.
Baby Foods tainted with heavy metals – investigated by The U.S. House of Representatives
(U.S. House of Representatives - Baby Food Toxic Metals Report February 4, 2021)
We verify truthfulness of advertising and to ensure that claims about formula and baby foods are not misleading. Proper nutrition during pregnancy and in the early years of a child’s life is essential for brain development, healthy growth, and a strong immune system. With the proliferation of new manufacturers, many products that we think are safe could be dangerous with consequences.
Manufacturing, Distribution & Marketing Strategy of Infant Formula
From an infant formula corporation's annual report: "Our ability to manufacture, distribute and sell products is critical to our success.... Participation in the WIC program is an important part of our U.S. business based on the volume of infant formula sold under the program. Our financial results reflect net WIC sales, after taking into account the rebates we paid. The bid solicitation process is determined by each state’s procurement laws, but the process is relatively standardized across the WIC program. Changes in WIC, or our participation in it, could materially adversely affect our business." See full SEC Annual report here
Infant Formula interferes with infants human right to breast milk and contributes to "major public health problems."
Hospital staff receive free sponsored samples (against The Code) from multibillion dollar companies, and consequently, Black mothers are nine times as likely to be given formula for their babies than mothers of other races.
Medical establishments and hospital institutions claim to provide breastfeeding support for all women; yet Black and Indigenous mothers are targeted for a multitude of free samples, coordinated advertising, and misleading campaigns. This is reflected in the staggering difference in breastfeeding rates between Black and White mothers as published in the U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action.
Every governmental organization and infant formula company declares exclusive breast milk as the optimal and primary nutrition source for each and every infant during the first six-months of life. In practice, the Oregon WIC Program prohibits formula for only the first month of life and subsidizes infant formula consumption through aggressive partnerships to secure price agreements, approving hundreds of products in the State of Oregon alone.
Sources:
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American Academy of Pediatrics
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Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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U.S. House of Representatives - Toxic Metals Report
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United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF )
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The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding
SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES
Centers for disease control and prevention: Breastfeeding
CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) is committed to increasing breastfeeding rates throughout the United States and to promoting and supporting optimal breastfeeding practices toward the ultimate goal of improving the public’s health.
Human Milk Bank
Donor milk is an amazing resource for families to use! If you support infants right to breast milk, then learn how you can help start a milk bank in your community!
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