YOUR report "Toxins in mother's milk", (New Sunday Times, May 11), which may discourage mothers from breast-feeding their infants, is factually erroneous.

Breast-feeding is the recommended standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO) with regard to providing nutrition and nourishment for infants. This is also the stated policy recommendation of the Health Ministry of Malaysia.

It is well-established in scientific research that the presence of toxins in human milk arises from the food that the mother consumes or from the environment she lives in. These toxins are deposited in the fat cells of the mother or are passed on to the infant during pregnancy or through breast milk.

However, scientific research shows that the immunological and developmental benefits of breast-feeding outweigh the side effects arising from the toxins in the breast milk to both the mother and infant.

Anybody who is exposed to a contaminated environment or food is likely to have toxins in their body. Toxins accumulate in different parts, including adipose tissue, brain, bone blood, liver, placenta, semen and also breast milk. If we were to test infants born anywhere in the world, we would find in them industrial toxins.
The intake of toxins by breast-fed infants, as reported in a WHO study, is the same as or somewhat lower than that of infants fed on formula mixed with local water. However, your report argues to the contrary that formula-feeding is far safer than breast-feeding, though it is not substantiated or proven by scientific research.

Even Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail, whom the writer quotes on the issue of toxins in breast milk, acknowledges that "breast milk is the best as it provides components essential for infants' growth and development".

Rather than avoiding breast milk, our society must focus our attention on reducing toxins in the environment and in food, which is the most effective way of protecting babies and mothers from harm.