Can Formula Rightfully Campaign Against Childhood Obesity?

I’ve never claimed to be a lactation consultant, but I did breastfeed both of my children for as long as I could. Bombarded with coupons from formula companies like Similac and Enfamil while pregnant, I always knew I would breastfeed. These big formula companies’ attempts to lure me with coupons while promoting “breast is best” always felt, to me, like they were saying:

Sure, you say you want to breastfeed, but when you give up, give us a try instead.

It’s almost like they were waiting for breastfeeding mothers to fail so they could swoop in and pick up the pieces.

We all know the benefits of breastfeeding, both for mom and baby, and I am not here to argue scientific research, but when I saw this article about Nestle baby formula partnering with the city of Newark NJ to fight childhood obesity, my casual breastfeeding activism kicked in.

Huh?

Nevermind the American Academy of Pediatrics advocates breastfeeding for at least 12 months.

Or that the World Health Organization actively promotes breastfeeding.

Or that research has shown breastfeeding to help prevent obesity.

So where does formula fit in?

I don’t find any coincidence that a formula company is spending time and money investing in a campaign in one of the most poverty-stricken cities in New Jersey, which has a very high childhood obesity rate.

Is this good PR for Nestle? Or just bad for New Jersey?