Beijing Scientists Scramble to Replace the Boob

Beijing scientists are hard at work on developing an even more scientific replication of breast milk on the belief that Western formulas may not fit the nutritional needs of Chinese infants, the China Daily reports.

No, the prime motivation wouldn't be to capitalize on a massive market dominated by expensive Western imported baby formula, and also one rife with counterfeit goods and the occasional melamine scandal, but rather for the good of mankind the Chinese people.

And the announcement would have nothing at all to do with this news from earlier this week that China would place new restrictions on the importation of foreign milk powder.

Funded by the city government to the tune of RMB 10 million and conducted by Beijing dairy giant Sanyuan Foods Co (who will toss in 10 million of their own), the study will track the components of Chinese mothers' breast milk and develop a database of its nutritional components for the purpose of developing a new formula designed just for Chinese babies.

With the resolute decision long held by dairy industry scientists worldwide that a mother's breast just ain't up to the task of feeding an infant (just like those pesky narrow birth canals that are practically crying out for a C-section), scientists hope a Made-for-China version of breast milk backed by rigorous scientific research can make billions of RMB restore the credibility of local formula in local mothers, an estimated 72% of which are almost entirely dependent on formula for feeding their children 4 months after birth (but we're crying B.S. on that number in Beijing – we guess it's closer to 90%).

A higher-up in Sanyuan was clear to point out that formula could never fully replicate the nutritional profile of mother's milk, but they'll work damn hard to make the next best thing.

As evidence of their dedication to tackling this pesky problem, city bean counters pointed out that the RMB 10 million for reverse-engineering breast milk is "much greater than funding for unmanned aerial vehicles and all-electric vehicles research."

Well that's good to know, I guess.

Beijing is also seeing growth in the number of "mommy rooms," spaces set aside for nursing or the preparation of mother's milk, rather than forcing moms to perform such functions in dignified places like the ladies' restroom.

Meanwhile, expecting and new moms can choose to not wait for all of this research to result in a marketable product and learn why good old fashioned breastfeeding is really the best choice for your child here.

Image: The Age