Breast Milk                                   Formula  

Defense against  bacteria and viruses.  Includes:  antibodies other immune system components growth factors hormones many other substances	Formula-fed infants in the United States are more likely to: have ear infections diarrhea respiratory illnesses be hospitalized are 27% more likely to die in infancy than those fed human milk. (Death rates from formula use are much higher in non-industrialized nations.)
Flavor and nutritional composition change:  from month to month day to day hour to hour in accordance with the changing needs of the baby	Unchanging flavor and nutritional content: must be properly prepared is the same regardless of baby’s needs can be dangerously lacking in proper nutritional content when not properly prepared
Fatty acids: improve eye and brain development may improve intelligence	Fatty acids: no evidence these additives work as well as those in breast milk. Studies cited by formula companies compare the formula with additives to formula without additives (not human milk) when they make claims to its value.
In most cases, human milk is protective against pathogens--those in human milk and those the infant is exposed to in the environment: immunocompromised infants are at the greatest risk from pathogens in human milk most common pathogens are cytomegalovirus and human T-lymphotropic virus pathogens in human milk often immunize the infant against the pathogen and very rarely cause disease even human milk that is served improperly maintains a certain amount of safety through its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties	Powdered formula is not guaranteed nor required to be free of pathogenic organisms: contaminated frequently enough the federal government assumes parents know the risk typical pathogens are salmonella and enterobacter sakazakii. the FDA performs bacterial counts and up to 10,000 colony forming units per gram powder are acceptable no protective mechanism in formula against pathogens metal particles have been found in tins of powdered formula a Belgian family recently lost a lawsuit against the company that sold contaminated formula and caused the death of their son--this suggests that deaths from contaminated formula are to be expected and accepted.
Ideal nutritional components.  Excpetions: rare genetic diesease (ex. galactosemia or phenylketonuria) mothers with certain infectious diseases motheres who must take specific medications that are dangerous for infants when ingested through breast milk mothers addicted to illegal drugs	While nutritional compenents support growth, many infants have or develop an allergy to cow’s milk protein in formula. cow’s milk can be eliminated from breast milk cow's milk cannot be eliminated from cow’s milk based formulas switching to soy is not a reasonable alternative--infants allergic to cow’s milk are often also allergic to soy
Iron in breast milk: highly absorbable (bioavailable) works synergistically with the other unique components of breast milk	Iron in infant formula: not easily absorbed requires much higher levels in formula than is found in breast milk just to meet basic needs
Breast Milk is recognized by every major medical organization as the first choice for: optimum growth short term health long term health of infants	Formula is not the first choice substitute for breastfeeding. Alternatives to direct breastfeeding in order of importance are: the mother’s own breast milk provided in a bottle donor milk Formula--only if all other efforts for breast milk have been exhausted

  

1.         The National Women's Health Information Center. Benefits of Breastfeeding.Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227, Accessed November 228, 2007.

2.         Chen A, Rogan W. Breastfeeding and the risk of postneonatal death in the United States. Pediatrics. 2004;11:435-439.

3.         Institute of Medicine.  Committee on the Evaluation of the Addition of Ingredients New to Infant Formula. Infant formuls: Evaluating the safety of new ingredients. 2004.

4.         Palmer L. The deadly influence of formula in America. 2002. Available at: http://www.babyreference.com/InfantDeaths.htm.  Accessed November 8, 2007.

5.         Lonnerdal B, Grout W. Iron Metabolism inInfants London: CRC Press; 1989