For those of you who feed your baby Similac formula, please check into whether your current stash is part of the recall: http://similac.com/recall/lookup.aspx. My thoughts go out to you as you must be upset and frustrated with this terrible issue.
Also, interestingly, I saw this article that a friend posted on her Facebook page and thought it was interesting...http://jezebel.com/5646145/similac-recall-breastfeeders-spare-us-the-sanctimony. Personally, I think everyone has got to do what they gotta do. I happen to share my experiences with breastfeeding because that is where I am at right now. I was in the opposite situation 7 years ago with my first son, where breastfeeding was impossible while I was finishing school. If his formula was recalled I would be really upset and scared.
However, I do have to say, that some of the comments and the general feel of the article REALLY bothered me. For me, I think it brings to light the fact that moms on both sides feel responsible or guilty about doing the right thing all the time and end up judging one other, but the responsibility of the companies of these recalls is ignored. The feeling you get in this culture is all about personal responsibility and the companies don't have to be held responsible. Like the egg recall--they say consumers should fully cook their eggs. What happened to days where you could lick the cookie batter and eat your eggs over easy and not be scared that you would get sick or die?
Similar to other debates where people judge each other--like to go organic or not. Maybe the FDA should be holding these companies to a MUCH higher standard than they are currently practicing. Why should moms have to choose between organic and paying extra or non organic and be scared they are compromising the health of their families? Maybe companies shouldn't be allowed to spray any of our food with dangerous chemicals. Maybe factory farming should be examined because it has dangerous side effects and compromises the safety of our food system (in the case where the runoff from a meat farm was infecting spinach and tomatoes). Maybe we should examine our food policies and practices so that it works better for safety of the people as well as the health of the plant.
Food safety in this country (in my opinion) is TERRIFYING! Even for pet food! I don't go to the farms to buy directly because I want to feel superior to anyone. I do it because it is fresher and safer than going to the grocery store. Similarly, I don't breastfeed my baby to feel better than anyone else, I do it because I want to and I feel it is the best choice for my baby. I write about breastfeeding to offer support to women who want to make the same choice. Not to feel better than anyone else, but to help other women feel supported and have all the information.
So, whether you breastfeed or not, isn't really the issue here. I think the real issue is that we should be able to safely purchase something at the store and not have to pray that it won't be tainted or make our families ill. And, if a company sells a product that makes people ill, they should have bigger consequences.
In health and wellness,
Nicole
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