For those who are uncomfortable with these studies being published or discussed, I'd like to respectfully ask, what would you prefer be done?

That research into the benefits of breastmilk not be done? Or that it not be discussed when it is done? Or that scientific research be published with caveats about how despite the findings of the research, parents who feel bad shouldn't feel that the findings might apply to them? Scientific research is not judgement, it is neutral. What we choose to do with it is another matter.

For many women, the struggles of breastfeeding are outweighed by the knowledge that breastmilk is giving particular health benefits to their child. And so they persevere, and the general benefit to the population is increased (whether or not we choose to put our anecdotal experience above empirical evidence).

It's good for our babies, it's good for mothers, and it's good for our health system, for the health-giving mechanisms of breastfeeding to be understood. I don't see that the benefit to people who feel guilty about formula feeding is more important than the benefit of giving parents the absolutely best information they can to make the most informed choices they can.

If people who have either chosen to formula feed or have been forced to do so want scientific studies to show that there are no health implications in this course of action, they're going to be upset. There's just too much evidence. So rather than shooting the messenger, let's all look towards better education and getting as much information a we possibly can, so that we can all make the best decisions we possibly can, and be at peace with them, knowing we've done the very best we could in the circumstances we found ourselves.