This Health Minister, for example...

[IWishIWasAFrog]

...

www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Ban-infant-formula-Motsoaledi-20100513

Agree with the tighter rules on advertising/promotion of formula. But what about HIV positive mums, of which there are many in South Africa, malnourished and sick, and many one-parent families, or children raising children because the parents have moved to cities to work/passed away due to HIV?AIDS? I know of grandparents raising babies too. Sure, there are risks with preparing formula, and D&V is a leading cause of death in babies and children, but banning formula? I also worked in rural areas, and IMO women are very pro-breastfeeding, least not for financial reasons.

The last sentence of that article says:

"The advertising of infant formula has been banned in the UK in recognition of the importance of breastfeeding since 1995."

The promotion of formula as being as good as bf might be banned, but there are still plenty of adverts for formula!

So if they've got that bit wrong, maybe the rest of the article sensationalises a bit - at the beginning he seems to be saying that it's the advertising of formula that he wants banned.

It says he's been a rural doctor, so hopefuly is well-informed.

But you make some very good points in your OP.

I don't think formula should be banned across the world. I think it's great that we have a viable, safe alternative to breastfeeding.

But your HIV argument doesn't stand, HIV+ mums in 3rd world countries are actually advised to breastfeed for the first 6 months, because the risks of making up formula are so great that the risk of HIV transmission from breastfeeding is smaller.

So I am in a quandry over whether formula should be banned (banned is probably wrong, maybe very strictly controlled?) in countries which don't have the backup of health systems as we do.

Bertie, I agree about the recommendation to HIV+ mums to BF, not least due to the very real risks of diarroeah and vomiting and infant mortality, but often these mums are so sick and malnourished themselves, many other social factors, it's just not that black and white. SLTS could be right, mabe it is a bit sensationalised. Anyhow, off to feed my own little milkmonster now, night all!

Sorry, Smells, gotta correct you there. The advertising of infant formula is indeed banned in the UK.

Follow on formula can be advertised.

Infant formula is defined as formula intended to be used in the first 6 mths.

(Follow on was introduced after this ban, using the same branding and similar packaging to infant formula. Go figure.)

Ah, I stand corrected but... as you say, it's not always immediately apparent to the casual observer that they are not advertising ff for babies.

There have always been a small proportion of people who can't breastfeed, which is why wet nurses used to exist - it was only with the introduction of formula that their use declined.
So with no formula there would still be women who can't breastfeed. Wet nursing or the availability to purchase breastmilk would need to be sifficient if formula was going to be banned completely anywhere.

Is it possible that this health minister was either misquoted or got carried away by his own eloquence and will be shortly be qualifying his statement?