By Dr. Mercola
The market for functional and fortified foods grew
significantly from 2012 to 2013, with infant formula topping the
list.
In 2013, infant formula added nearly $5 billion in global
sales, dwarfing gains seen for energy drinks ($3.5 billion),
pre- and probiotic yogurts ($2.4 billion) and waters ($2
billion).1
Middle-Class Consumers are Being Targeted by Infant Formula
Marketers
The infant formula market isn’t done growing yet. Experts
believe that the product will maintain an 11 percent compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) until 2018, with middle-class markets
(especially those in Asia) largely fueling the rapid expansion.
Analyst Diana Cowland told FoodNavigator-USA:2
“It is the rapidly expanding base of middle-class
consumers in emerging economies, with high aspirations for
their children and a willingness to make sacrifices, which
is the prime target audience for products containing
ingredients which benefit developing brains.”
In order to make up for the European and American
infant-formula markets, which are described as ‘more sluggish,’
the marketers are now targeting Asia and potentially Africa and
the Middle East with earnest.
What’s the Real Cost of Formula Feeding Your Baby?
Depending on which type of formula you choose, it can cost
upwards of $1,500 to $3,000 a year to purchase enough formula to
feed an infant. But that’s only the beginning.
Breastfeeding offers a long list of life-long health
benefits, not just for the child, but for the mother as well.
Studies have shown that breastfed babies gain added protection
against:
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) |
Eczema |
Respiratory- and other types of infections |
Heart disease |
Obesity |
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes |
Bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease |
Asthma and allergies |
Necrotizing enterocolitis among premature babies |
Breastfeeding can also help promote cognitive development in
your child. It also benefits the mother in several ways,
including:
Enhancing maternal behavior through increased oxytocin
release |
"Natural birth control," as it suppresses ovulation,
making pregnancy less likely |
Diabetic mothers typically require less insulin |
Easier weight loss |
Reducing your risk of endometrial-, ovarian- and breast
cancers |
Reducing your risk of metabolic syndrome |
Not Breastfeeding Costs Billions of Dollars a Year, May
Contribute to Tens of Thousands of Illnesses
However, you don’t have to fall prey to the marketing plans
of these companies, as there are far better foods for your baby.
By not breastfeeding, you and your baby miss out on
these important benefits noted above, which translates into
increased risk of diseases and corresponding medical costs.
One study estimated the increased medical costs of
diseases caused by a lack of breastfeeding infants in their
first six months of life to be $13 billion each year in the
US alone. The researchers concluded:3
“If 90% of US families could comply with medical
recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, the
United States would save $13 billion per year and prevent an
excess 911 deaths, nearly all of which would be in infants
($10.5 billion and 741 deaths at 80% compliance).”
Women, too, miss out when they formula feed in lieu of
breastfeeding. Separate research found that current US
breastfeeding rates, in which only 23 percent of women
breastfeed for at least one year after birth, translate to:4
- 4,981 excess cases of breast cancer
- 53,847 cases of hypertension
- 13,946 cases of myocardial infarction
This was compared with a cohort of 1.88 million US women who
optimally breastfed, and assumes that observed associations
between breastfeeding duration and maternal health are causal.
The study concluded:
“ … suboptimal breastfeeding incurs a total of $17.4
billion in cost to society resulting from premature death, …
$733.7 million in direct costs, … and $126.1 million
indirect morbidity costs … “
Even When You Factor in More Maternity Leave for Women,
Breastfeeding Still Saves Money
Increasing numbers of women are co- or primary breadwinners
in their households and may return to work just weeks after
giving birth. This, coupled with the fact that research shows
breastfeeding duration tends to be longer when maternity leave
is lengthened,5
represents one barrier to women wishing to breastfeed for longer
periods.
The above referenced study that found not breastfeeding costs
the US economy at least $13 billion a year was sharply
criticized for this very reason, with critics saying it did not
take into account the monetary losses women in the workforce
would incur by taking the time to breastfeed. So, the
researchers conducted another study that factored in such
additional costs, including pediatric health costs, formula
costs, cost of extra food for breastfeeding women, paid leave,
and additional factors. The results spoke for themselves:6
“If 90% of mothers could
comply with current medical recommendations around
breastfeeding, our economy could save $3.7 billion in direct
and indirect pediatric health costs, with $10.1 billion in
premature death from pediatric disease. We would spend $3.9
billion less per year on infant formula. Additional food for
nursing mothers would cost up to $1.6-2.1 billion, and more
Baby-Friendly® … births [designed to promote breastfeeding]
would cost $0.145 billion.
Paid leave would cost $6.2 billion for 12 weeks at
55% pay … Even including paid leave, the net cost to our
economy of our suboptimal breastfeeding rates would still be
at least $8.7 billion. Paid leave would be expected to
improve breastfeeding duration and reduce disparities.”
As a revealing aside, the study also uncovered that the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) budget is dependent on rebates from
formula companies, which obviously represents a major conflict
with promoting the healthier option of breastfeeding:
“Note that current formula company rebates of $2
billion to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) are equal to 32% of net WIC
expenditures … The WIC budget is dependent on formula
company rebates, a conflicting situation.”
This is About Empowerment, Not an Attack on Formula-Feeding Moms
As the benefits of breastfeeding are beginning to be more
widely recognized, at least in the US, there has been a growing
stigma against moms who formula-feed their babies. If you’re a
formula-feeding mom, please don’t feel attacked or judged!
The information I’ve compiled here is meant to empower
women with the information they need to make healthy
choices. Many women do not have access to the truth about
breastfeeding and have been mislead by infant-formula marketing
to believe they must spend thousands of dollars a year to
provide the best nutrition for their babies. In reality (and
barring any extreme exceptions such as certain transmittable
diseases or drug use), breast milk is the best food for babies,
period.
Ideally, you'll want to strive to breastfeed your baby
exclusively for the first 6 months, at which point you can begin
to supplement with solid foods and continue to breastfeed for a
year or longer. But remember, even breastfeeding for as little
as one month can impart great health benefits for both you and
your baby.
Most Women Can Successfully Breastfeed Their Babies
There are certain medical conditions that can prevent a woman
from breastfeeding, however the majority of women are able to
produce adequate supplies of milk and breastfeed successfully.
Often, those who believe they cannot may be misinformed, and
believe they don't have enough milk; this is a common
misperception. However, in the vast majority of circumstances,
all women have enough milk to breastfeed. The more the baby
nurses, the more milk you will produce! Mom needs to drink
plenty of water and seek optimal nutrition while nursing. The
beginning weeks and months are critical in the process. As the
La Leche League states:7
"Some mothers need to know that they will be able to
breastfeed their babies in less than ideal or special
circumstances. For example, many mothers have been
able to provide their own milk for their premature or ill
babies. Many mothers also continue to breastfeed after
returning to work and, in most cases, provide sufficient
milk.
In other cases, because of lack of knowledge or a
poor start, a mother may be in a situation where her body is
not producing enough milk. Increasing frequency of nursing,
making sure the baby is latched on correctly, and offering
both breasts at each feeding are some of the proven
techniques that help most nursing mothers increase their
supply."
What are the Next Best Options to Breastfeeding?
If you are a woman who is unable to breastfeed, you may want
to consider using
donated breast milk. Unfortunately, there is a major
downside to using breast milk from human milk banks that are now
available in the US. The milk has been pasteurized, which means
many of the essential immune-building elements will be decimated
in the pasteurization process and your infant will fail to
receive this crucial support when they need it the most.
So while human milk banks are a fantastic idea, the sad
reality is that milk obtained from them -- assuming it is
pasteurized, as is standard process at most milk banks -- is far
inferior to breast milk that is unpasteurized. An alternative
option to obtain unpasteurized breast milk straight from a donor
may be to work with a physician or pediatrician who will work
with you to find a safe milk donor, and will be involved in a
screening process to ensure the milk is safe.
If for whatever reason you're unable to breastfeed or
find a safe source of breast milk, please steer clear of
commercial infant formulas as much as possible and definitely
avoid all soy infant formula, as it is loaded with toxic
elements like high doses of manganese and aluminum.
It is among the worst commercial food you could give your
baby. It is likely that at some point in the future when all the
health complications are fully appreciated, it will be removed
from the market and banned. However, even milk-based infant
formulas have been found to be
contaminated with chemical additives (including some that
are ‘organic’!). The next best alternative to breast milk is to
make a healthy homemade infant formula. There may be others, but
here is one
recipe for homemade formula created by the Weston Price
Foundation, which I believe is sound.
© Copyright 1997-2013 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.