A Mom's Plea

No matter what breasts have come to symbolize in different cultures, their mission has always been to feed babies.

Breast milk is undeniably the best food for developing babies: It supplies proper nutrition and immune defenses to help them grow into healthy, strong children. It also supplies toxic chemicals picked up from our environment, including flame retardants from furniture, carpeting, electronics and other household items. Those flame retardants, in turn, have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, thyroid disorders, developmental disorders and other health problems we want our children to avoid.

That doesn't mean that anyone should stop breastfeeding; rather, it's a call for public policy that doesn't allow dangerous chemicals into our homes.

Earlier this year the Breast Cancer Fund helped pass a bill in Washington State that will phase out a class of flame retardants known as PBDEs. And now California, which already has bans on some flame retardants, has the chance to ban another flame retardant called Tris. Mary Brune, founder of Making Our Milk Safe (MOMS) writes today about the proposed California law and why it matters for our families on the Huffington Post. Give it a read and see how you can get involved.