December 9, 2005

FOOD BANKS AND INFANT FORMULA

INFACT Canada would like to remind all our members to donate generously to food banks this holiday season. We would also like to warn against the dangers of donating infant formula to such institutions, however. Free infant formula should only be given out to mothers on the advice of health professionals, and free samples must be given for the entire duration that the infant is formula-fed in order to ensure that he or she receives adequate nutrition. Because breastmilk is always free and provides optimal nutrition, low-income mothers and babies have the most to gain from breastfeeding.  Free samples of formula deter breastfeeding and are therefore not in the best interest of mothers and babies in need. Instead, we encourage our members to work with food banks to develop breastfeeding support.