Ban the Bags, Louisiana! Let’s do it!

Due to the high number of Louisiana hospitals participating in The Gift and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, the LBC has discontinued it’s Ban the Bags, Louisiana! campaign. The LBC will continue to share resources to promote the evidence-based practice of keeping maternity hospitals and doctor’s offices commercial-free.

What is Ban the Bags?

Ban the Bags is a national campaign that grew out of efforts in Massachusetts to stop aggressive formula company marketing tactics in maternity hospitals. Studies have shown that formula sales campaigns undermine mothers who choose to breastfeed, and co-opt medical professionals to promote expensive brand-name formula.

Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition • Ban the Bags

Visit www.banthebags.org to download a Tool Kit and learn why formula discharge bags really aren’t free and why they do more harm than good.

Public Citizen is also fighting to keep maternity hospitals commercial-free. Along with >100 other organizations, Public Citizen is calling on more than two-thirds of hospitals in the United States that distribute industry-sponsored formula samples to immediately stop this practice. And, they’re demanding that formula companies — primarily Big Pharma and Big Food corporations — stop this practice, which violates the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.  A 2013 study showed that the vast majority of top-ranked hospitals in the U.S. have ended or substantially limited formula marketing to new mothers. Public Citizen issued a new report on June 17, 2014 highlighting successful initiatives to limit formula marketing in healthcare facilities.  The report includes strategic approaches and case studies.  To download this report, click here.

 

Watch these videos to learn more about infant formula marketing:

Formula marketing in doctors’ offices and health clinics