This book is a "semitechnical" summary of the scientific literature on
human milk and infant formula. I have sought to treat these two major
sources of infant food in light of the needs of mothers both of the industrialized
world and of developing nations, keeping in mind both the diversity and
similarity of the conditions under which humanity survives.
I choose not to judge as "better" either infant formula or human milk. Both
are clearly needed. Even if mother's milk is better under most conditions, it is
not so under all conditions; and if a mother, of her own volition, and for
whatever reason, elects not to breast-feed, infant formula remains the ideal
substitute.