Just recently, I received a survey from The Research Institute of Mother and Child Care asking me to complete the survey regardless if I’m breastfeeding or formula feeding. As I read on, it was obvious that this survey was really interested in my formula usage and if the hospital supplied me with formula to go home with. Being a NICU nurse and breastfeeding educator, I had suspicions that a formula company was being this “study”, so I put on my detective hat and began my investigation. Little did I know that it was going to take me some time to find solid proof…
One would think that if you Googled the name of the researcher, information regarding the company would pop up. This is the internet era. When I scoured the internet for this company, I was lead to blog post after blog post of parents writing about this same exact survey (I guess I wasn’t “part of a small group of parents randomly selected to participate from around the country” as I thought 
). There was even a petition on one site to stop this survey. So who was behind such a survey that had these bloggers up in arms? Abbott Laboratories, the makers of Similac formula. Interesting! I knew something smelled like formula!
I had to see concrete evidence for myself, so I went searching. It was no easy feat to find a concrete link between The Research Institute of Mother and Child Care and Abbott Laboratories. Why so secretive I wonder?
Finally, I found the proof I was looking for (see for yourself). Here’s how I found the information:
1. I did a search for “The Research Institute of Mother and Child Care” and other variations including, “The Research Institute of Mother and Child Care Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin”. I searched the PO Box address in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
2. Since nothing solid came through the search terms, I began reading blog posts for some clues. And clues I found.
3. Next I went to abbottnutrition.com looking for any connection. I searched through the site without avail.
4. So, I decided to search for company records in the State of Wisconsin Business Services and the Office of the Secretary of State, State of Wisconsin websites. Still nothing…
5. Finally, I decided to look up records from Ohio State since this is where Abbott Laboratories is based. A search through the Ohio Secretary of State Business Search landed me on the corporate details of The Research Institute of Mother and Child Care. And there it was, in black and white…the evidence that I was looking for.
Now, I understand conducting research to market to a specific population. However, with tactics like this, it’s no wonder why Similac has such a bad reputation among breastfeeding mommies and lactation consultants. Here’s a tip Abbott: be forthcoming, disclose your involvement and provide ACCURATE information to mommies when sending out mailers (for example, breastfeeding moms should feed 8-12 times per day and NOT 6-10 times per day as a recent coupon mailer I received stated) and you might feel the heat simmer a bit. Just a thought…
Have you received a survey like this? Tell us your story.
Author : Diba Tillery RN, BSN, IBCLC, CPST
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Good for you! Thanks for doing the footwork. I have to say, for every money-drunk corporation I am glad there is someone like you out there on the side of children and moms.
Well said, Diba! As I mentioned – I received this survey almost three years ago after the birth of my second son. I would have felt OK with the survey had I not felt like they were being so “sneaky”.
Hmmm…good to know! Thanks for making us all aware!
Thank you for this information. I think Abbott realized that parents are becoming aware of the connection that they now changed their so called research institute to National Research of Infant Nutrition. I received a survey yesterday but had a bad feeling about it. So I googled it and just like you I didn’t find a company website instead it was mentioned it several blogs. I decided to google the name and add the address Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin and it led me here.