Abstract
Why, one would ask, would the Chinese do such a seemingly unusual activity? Apparently, this activity of the Chinese tourists is the result of a major concern of Chinese parents regarding the quality and safety of the Chinese domestic formulas. This concern primarily stems from the revelation in 2009 that two Chinese producers of milk powder (that was used in the production of infant formula) were convicted and executed for adulterating the milk power with melamine, an industrial chemical, resulting in hundreds of thousands of sick infants. Subsequent recalls in 2012 of infant formulas from other Chinese producers have just reinforced these safety concerns. The Chinese demand for formula also results from the enormous and increasing consumer market power of the emerging population of urbanized middle class families. Thus this ostensible “ emergency” in the shortage formula in Australia is a consequence of demographic and socioeconomic developments in China that have led to a competition for a precious and limited product. In other words, this is simply a matter of macroeconomics, the reality of interlocking economies and open borders.
What makes one cry when reading the accounting of this sequence of events is that none of this emergency would have developed if more mothers in both countries breastfed their infants and were not artificially dependent on infant formula for the nutrition of their infants. If anything, one would have expected that the increasingly sophisticated Chinese parents who are so focused on providing only the best for their “one child” would have acknowledged and acted on the evidence-based data on the health benefits to both mother and infant from breastfeeding. No less so given the reality of health risks in feeding infant formula produced in their still relatively unregulated food industry and the lack of enforced standards of food production; one would have hoped that the educated Chinese mother would know better. Unfortunately, this is not so.
In addition, on the Australian end of this equation is the fact that even though the initiation rate for breastfeeding is over 90%, the reality that less than 20% of Australian mothers adhere to the World Health Organization recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Thus, it is clear that if more mothers choose to do follow the universal recommendation (World Health Organization, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), this problem of infant formula–empty shelves in Australia would probably not exist. Again, in simple terms, if both more Australian and Chinese mothers breastfed with all its documented health benefits, the shortage would be resolved, and there would be no need for the institution of dramatic economic policies and restrictions such as rationing and export duties. Of interest is that the New York Times correspondent did not mention at all breastfeeding in the survey of this problem and ignored its role as a major variable in the demands for formula.
So where does the ABM come into this story? I need not remind the readers that the ABM is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding and human lactation. As such, the developments in Australia and China have more than passing interest as fodder for a cute story for the media. In fact, the 2012 activity of the ABM on the international scene has only confirmed both the need to conceptualize and orient one's activities from an international perspective and the realization that given the realities of world economic and social changes, one cannot isolate one's self and persist in a parochial viewpoint. ABM's increasing role internationally has been reaffirmed by its commitment to serve as a Core Partner to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. No less evident has been ABM's 2012 invitation to participate in November as the key international medical organization in the recent Mid-Eastern Breastfeeding Conference in Dubai. Likewise, presenting the activities of the ABM in the Madrid Breastfeeding Summit of the Excellence in Pediatric Conference highlighted ABM's special role. The ABM-sponsored 2012 regional conferences in Trieste, Italy and Japan also confirmed our international involvement and priorities.
Yes, all of these activities are a measure of Priority 1 in our 2011 Strategic Plan, which proposed that our activities be geared “to ensure that the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is recognized as the premier physicians' organization in breastfeeding and human lactation worldwide.” In adopting this goal three elements were emphasized:
• premier—anyone seeking an authoritative voice on medical aspects of breastfeeding and human lactation should turn first to ABM. • physicians—ABM is, and is committed to remaining, a professional organization of and for physicians. • worldwide—committed to being the home for physicians interested in breastfeeding and human lactation in every country around the world.
Thus, reflecting back on the newly ended year of 2012, one can take a measure of satisfaction that we have truly begun and acted on this commitment to be an international organization and that the tragedy/comedy of Australia/China does not remain a farce but rather an incentive for furthering our advocacy, training, and education and clinically related programs in 2013 and beyond.