Formula does not offer all the benefits of mother's milk

MONDAY WAS THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY DAY for breast-feeding. China Daily reporter Li Yang comments:

Research indicates many benefits of breast-feeding, yet the breast-feeding rate in China has remained low. In cities and villages, women have become crucial family wage earners and the practical difficulties new mothers wanting to breast-feed face prompt many to resort to formula powders. Apart from their heavy workloads and tight schedules, the short maternity leave - no more than four months in most cases - and the lack of breast-feeding facilities and nurseries in workplaces all discourage breast-feeding.

The dairy industry has taken advantage of this situation to successfully create the illusion that their formula products can be a substitute for breast milk, remaining silent about the fact that breast-feeding does more than just provide babies with nourishment.