Interesting responses in BMJ to questioning of 6 months ebf

[Albrecht]

Sorry if this has already been posted or everyone is just sick of the subject but I thought some quite interesting points raised (in response to recent press questioning exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months)

here

Thanks for posting that.

Yes, thanks from me too

very interesting

Thank you - that was very interesting

Yes, very interesting. Especially the bit about perhaps the guidelines should be different for FF babies.

And she's probably right that the industry wouldn't like it.

Hope more people read this.

What chance of The Guardian (and other papers) putting this on the front page?

Had a local Journo get in touch today asking for Mums to comment on the original review. Have just sent her the link to the BMJ.

thanks, very interesting- let's wait for these responses to be headline news, shall we?

Very good, thanks for that - from a mum to an exclusively breastfed four-month-old ...

thanks from me, too :)

Thanks - that was definitely worth reading.

Very interesting, thank you.

Thanks for posting that, as rightly mentioned I doubt we'll see this as headline news. This makes me feel very sad about the state of scientific journalism in this country - repeatedly sensationalised in order to sell papers with little regard for public health. Gah!

Thank you!

Fascinating.

November it is very sad isn't it.

Crikey, that's pretty damning. It won't make news, previous examples where discredited authors did much worse were never followed up, and flawed findings still exist as urban myth, but in research the opinion of peers is important (it can affect future publishing) so it's a promising start.

Perhaps one of those Journos who hang around MN trying to get stories will actually print something about this

bump

Yes, yes, yes to different guidelines for FF and BF infants. If there is evidence that FF infants are likely to need more a wider diet earlier than BF infants it should be reflected in the guidlines.

It may also highlight the nutritional inadequacy of formula the superiority of breast milk.

"Judged as a review, this piece fails on all quality criteria"

"this Nestle-supported review",

"Sadly, this paper has not advanced knowledge, but rather confused and misled. It has thereby resulted in national ... media coverage that is likely to increase the sales of formula. Peer review by those with knowledge of the field should have prevented that."

"it might be noted that three of the four authors declare receiving funding from the infant food industry"

Just a few of the damning quotes about this appalling piece of non-research (given that it wasn't even research, but a review of the same research that the WHO used to make its original recommendations).

The BMJ have had more responses added over the last few days.

I like this from a doctor:

"Competing interests: I am still exclusively breastfeeding my 5 1/2 month old baby"