The Australian Breastfeeding Association moved quickly to address a controversial remark about formula made by one of its counsellors at a class held in Queensland.

News.com, Australia's leading news agency, reported Saturday that the counsellor likened formula to AIDS.

"Nobody actually dies from AIDS; what happens is AIDS destroys your immune system and then you just die of anything and that's what happens with formula. It provides no antibodies," the counsellor is quoted as saying on news.com.

She also told the group that a baby dies every 30 seconds from formula feeding.

"Every 30 seconds a baby dies from infections due to a lack of breastfeeding and the use of bottles, artificial milks and other risky products. Every 30 seconds."

The ABA has launched an internal investigation into the allegation of misconduct and says disciplinary action will be taken if the counsellor acted inappropriately.

The organization says it supports mothers to make informed choices about available alternatives if mothers do not have enough breastmilk or where breastfeeding is not possible.

It says that "all trained breastfeeding counsellors are governed by our code of ethics and are not permitted to give medical advice."