Human milk in the modern world

Sir, In her recent review of our book Mavis Gunther (whose work we have admired greatly) seems to have cast us as a blend of brainless (if amiable) zealots, fundamental evangelists, and self-deluded visionaries. Perhaps our strong secular advocacy is because our perspectives are very different from hers. Our main concerns are with disadvantaged communities (mainly in the third world), where breast feeding is vital for survival in early childhood, rather than ideal as in industrialised parts of the world. Dr Gunther has misconstrued several concerns expressed by us. For example, the phrase 'statutory legislation for breast feeding' used in her review suggests forced breast feeding camps. In fact, in our book we discuss the legislation that is needed to make it easier for working women to breast feed should they wish to do so-scarcely wild-eyed evangelism, as this is already the practice in some parts of the world. In essence, what may be called a Calcutta-eye view of infant feeding is very different from a London-eye view. In the third world breast feeding is one of the main components of primary health care in relation to nutrition, water supply, infection, economics, self sufficiency in food production, and child spacing' and as such it deserves activist advocacy.