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IFC Commentary on Bartick and Reinhold 2011

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This commentary is in response to the article by Bartick and Reinhold, "The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis." 1 The International Formula Council* supports the position of the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations that breastfeeding is ideal and offers specific child and maternal benefits. However, we have several major concerns about the methodology and assumptions underpinning this analysis:

Innovation of Infant Formula Products and DHA/ARA

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IFC Comments Regarding Innovation of Infant Formula Products and DHA/ARA

Infant formula has been developed through the latest scientific research to meet the nutritional needs of infants. As scientific knowledge expands regarding the role of nutrients in optimizing growth and development - right down to the cellular level - refinements supported by this information are made to infant formulas in order to provide infants with the best possible nutrition when breast milk is not available.

Breastfeeding Health Benefits

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A review of the scientific literature finds support for the benefits of breast milk, especially regarding the possible effects in reducing the incidence of:

  • diarrhea
  • respiratory infections
  • ear infections

However, for chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, environmental and genetic factors play a significant role in disease development.

Breastfeeding Support

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In response to questions about the American Dietetic Association’s Position Statement, Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding, the International Formula Council offers the following statement:

The International Formula Council (IFC)* agrees that breast-feeding http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_1728_ENU_HTML.htm is the ideal method of feeding and nurturing infants.

The IFC strongly supports the positive promotion of breast-feeding, and agrees that the barriers to breast-feeding for women in society, especially those in the workforce, should b

Infant Formula Safe and Healthy for Babies

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In response to the Resolution on Infant and Young Child Nutrition adopted by the 58th World Health Assembly, the International Formula Council offers the following statement:

"The International Formula Council (IFC)* has a long-standing commitment to improve the nutritional status and health, and thus the survival, of infants and young children.

DHA Improves Motor Milestones

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Study Finds DHA Supplementation of Healthy Infants Improves Some, But Not All Motor Milestones

A study in the January 2009 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Agostoni et al.

Breastfed Baby and Obesity

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Study shows no association between prolonged exclusive breastfeeding and childhood weight, adiposity, or blood pressure at age 6.5 years.

A recent study showed that there were no significant association observed on various measures of adiposity and blood pressure in children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months compared to those that were not after six and a half years of follow up.

Experts Recommend DHA in Baby Formula

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International Expert Working Group recently recommended DHA and AA be added to Infant Formula

The recommendations of an international group of experts, headed by Berthold Koletzko, that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) should be added to infant formula were recently published in the Journal of Perinatal Medicine. In this publication, the authors state that “a large database exists concerning not only the safety, but also the efficacy of infant formula containing AA and DHA.