Big Latch On moves forward, leaves behind controversial sponsor

See note at bottom regarding Global Big Latch On and sponsorship - added May 10, 2015

The Global Big Latch On has confirmed in private correspondence with Human Milk News that they will be moving forward with the 2015 Big Latch On without the sponsorship of the controversial Mother's Milk Cooperative.  (See Human Milk News: "Who Owns Breastfeeding: Why I'm troubled by the Big Latch On: April 2014)

The Global Big Latch On is held during World Breastfeeding Week, and the theme for WBW this year is "Breastfeeding and Work, Let's Make it Work." Global Big Latch On is actively seeking sponsors for its 2015 events. As a participant in World Breastfeeding Week, Global Big Latch On affirms the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action's *sponsorship criteria:

WABA does not accept sponsorship of any kind from companies producing breastmilk substitutes, related equipment and complementary foods. 

WABA encourages all participants of World Breastfeeding Week to respect and follow this ethical stance.

This means no partnerships with pump companies, whether they are Code compliant or not, limiting the Global Big Latch On's ability to sponsor with major companies with a vested interest in getting in front of pregnant and lactating consumers who may not even be in the market for a breast pump. I think this is a good thing. Ethical partnerships are critical to supporting breastfeeding families in meeting their goals.

I'm relieved to see the arrangement with the Mother's Milk Coop/Medolac come to an end and I hope the Global Big Latch On holds off entering into any sponsorship arrangements with any companies who profit from the sale of human milk. The debate over the commercialization of human milk is starting to heating up and Global Big Latch On doesn't need to be associated with the controversy. (See New York Times: Breast milk becomes a commodity with mothers caught up in debate" March 20, 2015)

Contact Global Big Latch On to organize or register for an event.

I'm looking forward to this summer's Big Latch On events. I hope they are able to make it the sponsorship component work so breastfeeding families are free to gather in an environment that doesn't feel coercive. I know organizers will be relieved knowing they can jump on board without compromising their own positions around ethical sponsorship and predatory marketing.

*Edited Sunday, May 10th, 2015 (Mother's Day) to add:

Big Latch On has just announced a sponsorship arrangement for the 2015 Big Latch On with breast pump company Ardo Medical. The good news: Ardo is Code compliant. The bad news? The Code is a minimum standard, and World Breastfeeding Week organizer WABA has policies for ethical sponsorship that go beyond the Code. WABA has outlined its policy around sponsorship of World Breastfeeding Week, asking all participants to respect and follow this ethical stance. It provides this more detailed explanation on its website: 

WABA does not accept funds or gifts from manufacturers or distributors of breastmilk substitutes, related equipment such as feeding bottles and teats, commercial foods for breastfeeding mothers, or commercial complementary foods. It also does not accept funds or gifts from manufacturers of other products commonly used in infant feeding such as breastpumps and encourages WABA endorsers to adopt the same ethical stance.