Parenthood brings with it an insight into many issues that previously I had taken only a passing interest in at best, some of which seem to rank as holy wars. The current one that has caught the notice of the recently enlarged Reddin family is the breast milk vs. formula milk debate. In fact, I have probably learnt more about breasts in the last few weeks than in all my adolescent years.
Now I don’t think anyone would deny that breast milk is best – it’s the most natural food and full of good antibodies, nutrients, etc, etc. However, there are many who would, as part or all of their baby’s diet, use formula for various reasons - often practical, sometimes medical - without any problems. Ultimately that should be their informed choice as parents.
And there’s the problem. Choice. There are some who would deny that choice and - yes, you guessed it - they are looking to the State to do their bidding.
Baby milk ads ’should be banned’
A coalition of charities is demanding baby milk be treated like tobacco and subjected to a total advertising ban.
OK, so two trip-wires of any self-respecting freedom-lover should already have been triggered by now – with the words “should be banned” and “coalition of”. Have you ever noticed that coalitions so often tend to be made up of either left wing groups and/or authoritarian busy-bodies?
Did you notice how formula milk was being hysterically compared to tobacco? Is this really the level to which the argument has already descended? Let’s get things in proportion: first, formula milk will not kill you. Second, people don’t get addicted to it. (Though you could validly ask: so what if they did?) But, you see, parents cannot think for themselves these days, apparently, so we must not allow them to be tempted by all those pretty colours on the formula milk tins.
The National Childbirth Trust, Save The Children and Unicef blame adverts for many mothers abandoning breast feeding before the recommended six months.
… most [mothers] move on to formula within weeks, and fewer than half still breastfeed by the time their child is six weeks old.
By six months, only 25% of mothers are breastfeeding at all.
There are many reasons why breastfeeding may stop “early”. Advertising is not one of them. But hey, there are people out there that need to justify their salaries:
“The law must be tightened up - the government must close these loopholes once and for all”
… says the Head of Hunger Reduction at Save the Children. Yes, that really is his job title. Sadly the StC press release doesn’t actually say how this issue comes within the remit of “hunger reduction”. I wouldn’t have thought that starving children in the developing world could be so choosy.
However, with 75% of mothers dropping out of breastfeeding by six months (however undesirable that may be), we are clearly witnessing these charities wanting to extend a law that doesn’t even work for those it already targets. And so here is my last point for now – that we are arguing over an extension to an existing illiberal law. It will be argued that the precedent has been set, and so those who would be eternally vigilant for our freedoms must run to stand still.
