In 1987, my friend Kate and I stood in the middle of Yeovil high street with a very small white coffin. It was empty, but we wanted something eye-catching for passersby so that we could explain how baby milk formula manufacturers were relentlessly flogging formula to new mothers. Over 30 years later, and after much campaigning, I asked a question in the House of Lords in 2020 on the prevalence of breastfeeding in the UK.
The government’s answer was: “The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. Data published in the Lancet shows that 0.5% of babies in the UK are being breastfed up to one year compared with 23% in Germany.”
Formula is not as nutritionally perfect as breast milk, is more expensive, offers less immune protection and, especially in the developing world where clean water and sterilisation equipment are harder to access, is more difficult to provide safely.
So why, more than 30 years later, has so little changed (‘Underhand’ formula milk ads stop millions from breastfeeding, experts say, 7 February)? First, culture. Male politicians see breastfeeding as something they would rather ignore or eradicate – look at Stella Creasy’s experience of breastfeeding in the House of Commons. Second, profit. Formula sales are very profitable for manufacturers, breastfeeding is not. The charity Baby Milk Action has plenty of facts about this.
Sue Miller
House of Lords
