More hospitals saying ‘no thanks" to infant formula gift packs

Consumer Reports News: September 26, 2011 05:08 AM

New babies and new parents get plenty of gifts. One gift that may not be so welcome, though, are hospital-distributed diaper bags filled with infant formula sample packs.

With breast-feeding the preferred option for babies, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, among others, researchers have found that the distribution of these formula samples is associated with a reduction in the exclusivity and duration of breast-feeding.

A new study, "Trends in US Hospital Distribution of Industry-Sponsored Infant Formula Sample Packs," in the October issue of Pediatrics, looked at whether American hospitals have reduced the distribution of these packs. These researchers had originally done a study in 2007, surveying hospitals in all 50 states on this issue. The current study, based on work done in 2010, focused on the 10 states with the highest rate of sample-pack giveaways (termed worst-record states) and the 10 states with the lowest rate of distribution (termed best record state). It included 1239 hospitals in all.

The current study found that the practice of removing infant formula samples accelerated in those states that had had more pack-free hospitals in 2007.

"One of the interesting things we found is that the top 10 moved a lot, and in the worst 10, there was very little movement," said Anne Merewood, an author of the study. "It takes some kind of catalytic action for change."

"Breast feeding is the healthiest food for baby," said Merewood, who added, "it's a public health issue."

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—Merri Rosenberg