Many moms today are under the false impression that formula is an acceptable substitute for breast milk. The overwhelming evidence proves breast milk is a far superior baby food and the casual use of formula is detrimental to the health of moms, babies and the environment. Formula use has become a global problem and the World Health Organization (WHO) is striving to educate women (especially the poor) about the health benefits of breastfeeding.

Regardless of where we live or our own economic status, the cost of formula goes way beyond the check out counter. Higher health care premiums, a less healthy population and greater environmental impact will burden us, and our children for years to come (an estimated $3.6 billion in medical expenses would be saved each year if 50% of babies were breastfed for the first 6 months of life). The benefits of breastfeeding are lifelong, your child will have fewer illness, prescriptions and hospitalizations. Breast milk is a dynamic fluid and will change as your baby grows, giving her exactly what her developing body needs.

All the building blocks for maximum brain and eye development are contained in breast milk so your child will reach his highest potential. Many formulas claim to have the same brain/eye boosting compounds. There is no research supporting artificial DHA has the same effect, a baby’s immature stomach may not have the ability to even absorb the synthetic version.

Canada is successfully educating families about the benefits of breast milk and our rates of breastfeeding are increasing. However, this is not the case in other countries. Unethical advertising by formula companies is on the rise in developing countries as the $1.6 billion per year infant formula industry searches for new markets.

Consider that worldwide over 1 million babies die each year due to “incorrect feeding practices”. Most of these deaths are related to formula feeding and completely preventable by breastfeeding. Contaminated water used to mix formula, wash bottles and nipples makes a baby 25 times more likely to die of chronic severe diarrhea than a breastfed baby. Mothers in developing countries may not have the resources to feed formula at the correct strength and may dilute it to make a can last longer. Mothers even use powdered coffee creamer if they cannot purchase formula. The Philippines has the highest rate of formula feeding in the world at 84%. One in three Filipino babies is malnourished at 1 year and 16,000 die each year due to nutritional deficiencies. When all these facts are viewed together it is difficult to imagine why any mother would choose to feed her baby an inferior and possibly dangerous food. The sad reality is- the poor and undereducated are targeted by formula companies. In America misleading advertisements feature happy infants and boast of “brain building nutrients”. In the Philippines and Africa, ads lead mothers to believe breast milk is inferior and their bodies will not produce enough milk to nourish a child. Families are bombarded with these messages and soon take them as factual, not advertisements.