IT seems that my letter concerning the latest research findings on the the benefits of breast feeding has upset some mothers who chose formula milk for their own babies. This was not my intention at all. Undeniably bottle milk is excellent stuff, but in

IT seems that my letter concerning the latest research findings on the the benefits of breast feeding has upset some mothers who chose formula milk for their own babies. This was not my intention at all. Undeniably bottle milk is excellent stuff, but in the face of increasing evidence that it is not the best, it is surely sensible to encourage mothers to at least have a go at breast feeding.

We are all susceptible to marketing techniques and new mums are probably the most vulnerable of all. Government recognised this years ago when it banned the advertising of formula milk for newborns. Thus threatened with greatly reduced profits, formula manufacturers hit back with 'follow-on milk' for older babies. This invention circumvents the law allowing them to continue spending millions promoting a product that is inferior to the real thing, problematical to prepare, difficult to administer at the correct temperature and demands a strictly policed hygiene and sterilizing regime at all hours of the day and night.

Of course, there is a very real need for manufactured milk - there may be many reasons why a baby cannot be breast fed. However, medical experts have always suspected that the unique nature of human milk must be better for babies than food meant for cows. It seems that scientists now agree with them too.

Banning nursing mothers from public places to appease the prurient views of a small minority of mixed up people who equate them with top shelf pornography is surely neither fair nor democratic?

If it is, I shall have to bin my Christmas cards of virgin and child this year!

JACKIE PETTS

District Councillor

Ely East