Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16148

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Coutsoudis A, Coovadia HM, King J.
The breastmilk brand: promotion of child survival in the face of formula-milk marketing
Lancet 2009 Aug 1; 374:(9687):423 - 425
http://www.lancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60661-9/fulltext

Abstract:

The prevailing catastrophe caused by mothers in China unwittingly feeding their babies formula milk that was contaminated by a potentially toxic chemical, melamine, shows just how fragile the barriers protecting children from danger are. The epidemic has spread to neighbouring countries in southeast Asia, and melamine has been detected in formula milks (and other foods) in the USA and South Africa. 1 The source of the epidemic is the deliberate adulteration of formula milks with melamine by commer …