Comments on: Profit vs. Corporate Social Responsibility

By: Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC

Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:30:08 +0000

Dear Mothers,

Yes, you are right, people should be informed of their choices. However, the milk companies will not tell you that their products are contaminated with microscopic steel flakes, industrial oil, enterobacter zakasakii, synthetic hormones, antibiotics intended for cows, etc. They will not tell you that cow’s milk can trigger severe allergies that may lead to diabetes, liver canncer, etc. (please go to my website http://www.breastfeedingphilippines.com to get information on the dangers of milk consumption and email me at nurturers2005@yahoo.com.ph for more local sources of calcium)

Milk companies will not tell you that there are safer and better sources of calcium like brown rice, sesame seeds, nuts and other indigenous vegetables like beans, leafy vegetables and root crops. They will not tell you that in 1986, the World Health Assembly that emphasized that follow-up milk is not necessary. These are just products created by milk companies to circumvent the laws that protect breastfeeding.

I really symphatize with mothers who were not properly empowered to sustain breastfeeding while pursuing their career. However, it is really possible to do so as I have guided stewardesses, event organizers, NGO workers, insurance agents, etc. to work and breastfeed. If mothers will really be away eg OFWs, the best thing is to give their babies donated breastmilk and feed them with indigenous foods instead of formula.

Yes, you are right, the DOH has in the past neglected its role to inform mothers that is why we as advocates are initiating activities and trainings while critically cooperating with them.

Please do not fall prey to the milk companies’arguments that are based on their tremendous desire for profits. They try to bribe our team with P200 million because they are earning an estimated P18 billion a year while our children are dying.

Please go also go to milksucks.com and the website of John Robbins http://www.foodrevolution.org. He is the only son of the Baskin and Robbins ice cream empire founder who refused to inherit the company because his conscience can’t bear to promote dangerous products. It may save your life and the lives of your loved ones!

By: Sonnie

Sonnie — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:03:03 +0000

@ Snoopymom– very well said

By: Snoopymom

Snoopymom — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:13:59 +0000

I agree with Viviene. I am a mom of two who tried my darnest to breastfeed as long as I could. Unfortunately, I could only breastfeed till 7 months for my 1st-born, and 10 months for my 2nd. I consider myself lucky. I am a working mom who tried to pump at work and go home at the earliest possible time to breastfeed my baby. Unfortunately, I could not keep it up till — what advocates say — should be 2 years. My question is this? For those who are not “mama cows” (I know of moms who cry in frustration because they can’t get an ounce of breastmilk per feeding), what alternative is there? Short of having to get wet nurses (which is not common in the Philippines), they should be well-informed about breastmilk alternatives. I was able to switch my kids to formulas because there was enough info out there (and its not coming from DOH!) to tell us moms what is appropriate. I agree with the milk code regulating marketing of milk for infants 0-1 year, but up to 3 years?!!! I can only see more confused, uneducated moms doing a guessing game of what their choices are.

By: Global Voices Online » Milk wars in the Philippines: Breastmilk versus Infant Formula

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:48:22 +0000

[...] the operation of a breastmilk bank in the country. Environmentalists also endorse breastfeeding. Sonnie’s porch blogs about the milk wars and corporate social responsibility. Tiene Ara Zamboanguena is shocked [...]

By: Sonnie

Sonnie — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:27:55 +0000

Hi Viviene,

Your thoughts brought a different perspective on the issue. Thanks for speaking your mind, hope to hear more from you.

By: vivienne

vivienne — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:41:46 +0000

milk companies are offering not a substitute but a choice.it can be used/bought, it can be ignored in the market.u can be wise in ur own decision on this.ur own stand can make the point.u dont have to generalize.it is like choosing to use condoms or contraceptives or by just going ur way.y not leave the choices to the people?y so affected?ye ryt, ure not mothers.ure not working moms?OFW’s?as if u can be by the side of ur babies 24/7… most people and women are working.its unlike centuries ago where moms can just be home and take care of the kids.be real.

By: vivienne

vivienne — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:35:09 +0000

hi.interesting issue on breastfeeding brought me to the site.. and better to put my views on it too…
nobody, not even milk companies, disagree that breastfeeding is best for babies.but why would it be wrong to offer alternatives at some instances it cannot be made possible?working moms?moms who do not produce enough milk for the baby?Why ban milk companies from sharing thru promotions updates on Nutrition?Excuse me, governement, moreso, DOH has alot more to think of and why not just leave the choice to the parents.Why cant the DOH first and foremost, think of and look at malnutrition.Hello, theres more to work on…why not focus on something more significant…

By: Sonnie

Sonnie — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:36:25 +0000

Relax lang Ruth, he he… we can do two things, (1) do whatever we can do (what is within our control)– advocacy and making sure our voices are heard and (2) Pray that the truth and what is best for the nation will prevail.

Thanks for dropping by, and you are most welcome to return and give your two cents as you wish.

By: Ruth G. Tiangco

Ruth G. Tiangco — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:44:33 +0000

4.13.07
hello!
i was brought to this page as a result of covering SM Batangas’ launching of their mall clinic & breastfeeding station last month. we have a community paper &i covered the event. i met Dra Elvira Esguerra of Children for Breastfeeding Inc & Ms Nona Castillo, of Internatl Board of Certified LActating Consultants, 2 very admirable women fighting for the health of Filipino moms and babies.
i am really ANGRY at our SC giving these greedy infant formula manufacturers a TRO. more so when i learned from them that when a TRO is issued by the SC, it can mean 4EVER. sadly, it’s true, the bottom line is simply, MONEY.
i am not a mother, but all my nephews and nieces were breastfed till 2 yrs old. in fact, medyo nahirapan butawin (wean) sila ng mga kapatid ko. they never used the bottle. they went straight from the breast to kiddie cups. and they are all healthy kids, with only the occasional colds. unlike a friend’s kid who has all sorts of ailments to this day.
FYI, in one grocery store here in BAts. (before SM came), the #1 most shoplifted item are infant milk formulas. such that there came a time that mgt decided to put them behind locked glass cabinets, unlike most goods u see in the grovery. and ALL the caught mothers, judging by their appearances in the pictures, were most likely poor!
it pains me to see this poor mothers having to resort to shoplift to feed their babies when they don’t even have to spend a cent for the 1st 6 months for their babies’ milk. and obviously these formula makers don’t care.
but i see something positive coming out of this David vs Goliath battle b/w the breastfeed advocates and formula (hello?! there were no such formulas at the time of Beethoven and Einstein, right??) makers. i think the public will be made more aware.
and let’s remember that David won!
Ruth

By: Daniel Escasa

Daniel Escasa — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 07:40:46 +0000

Ironically, it might’ve been in the 70s when infant health activists (I think) set out on a campaign and put out posters and flyers that said “Nestle kills babies.” Nestle sued and won. Still, the message from the activists apparently wasn’t lost on Nestle, if they’re supporting the RP govt’s breastfeeding campaign.

I’m tempted to mount my own campaign with the slogan “The US Chamber of Commerce kills babies.” Nah, can’t afford the libel suit defense. Maybe we can just ask the DFA to declare the US Chamber of Commerce officials personae non grata.