Hospitals should market HEALTH and nothing else

A majority of U.S. hospitals  distribute formula sample packs to new mothers, contrary to recommendations from most major medical organizations concerned about the potential for distributing these packs to reduce breastfeeding rates, according to a report in the September issue of  Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. However, the practice is changing significantly.

The national  campaign Ban the Bags, is working towards efforts to stop formula companies from using aggressive marketing tactics  in maternity hospitals. Multiple studies have shown that formula sales campaigns undermine mothers who choose to breastfeed, and coopt medical professionals to promote expensive brand-name formula.

BanTheBags.org is the web home of Ban the Bags, a national campaign to stop formula company marketing in maternity hospitals.

The campaign grew out of efforts in Massachusetts to stop aggressive formula company marketing tactics in hospitals. Multiple studies have shown that formula sales campaigns undermine mothers who choose to breastfeed, and coopt medical professionals to promote expensive brand-name formula. The distribution of formula sample packs to new mothers is contrary to recommendations from most major medical organizations concerned about the potential for distributing these packs to reduce breastfeeding rates, according to a report in the September issue of  Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. However, the practice is changing significantly.

I am so pleased to share the below link with my readers.  It is a list of US hospitals that have taken this issue seriously and have banned the bags!!!!

http://banthebags.org/bag-free-hospitals

Marsha Walker, a long-time advocate for mothers and babies, sums up why your hospital shouldn’t be part of the formula marketing racket. This one-page summary was instrumental in moving formula marketing out of a Texas hospital. Take it to your adminstrators today!  Marsha Walker, a long-time advocate for mothers and babies, sums up why your hospital shouldn’t be part of the formula marketing racket. This one-page summary was instrumental in moving formula marketing out of a Texas hospital. Take it to your adminstrators today!

http://banthebags.org/48#more-48

If you want to learn more about this organization and the work that they do, please follow this link:

http://banthebags.org/about

I would love to read your comments on this subject.