Baby food industry lobbies to weaken Codex standards on sweetness and flavouring

Unhealthy UN partnerships: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are the parent bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.  In 2021 FAO adopted a new Private Sector engagement strategy that is already shifting FAO’s focus from protecting its integrity, impartiality and mandate, towards working with the private sector, attracting funding for FAO and facilitating business operations. The FAO strategy establishes FAO as a “matchmaking” hub, linking member countries and relevant private sector entities around shared priorities and investments.  FAO intends to continue to receive financial and in-kind contributions from the private sector to support its own programmes and projects in areas of ‘mutual interest’. FAO’s partnership with the baby food company  Danone  is especially  worrying for the ongoing Codex discussions on baby feeding products. FAO’s partnership with Croplife a trade association that promotes agricultural technologies such as pesticides and plant biotechnology) was evident at the Codex Commission (CAC) and we believe it resulted in the critical comments being overlooked and excluded from the CAC Report.


IBFAN, ENCA, ILCA, HKI  and partner NGOs have been attending many Codex Alimentarius meetings this Autumn. (I attend Codex as ENCA)

What  happened this year?

The Codex Committe on Food Labelling (CCFL) in September finalised new Guidelines on Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) The Codex Commission (CAC44) adopted them soon afterwards (Click here or page down for more about other issues such as the growth hormone Zilpaerol.).

The Codex Nutrition meeting (CCNFSDU)  finished discussing some parts of the Proposed Draft revised standard for Follow-up Formula  but left the crucial section – whether the products should be covered by the Code and not promoted – to 2023!  (page down for more).

CCNFSDU finished discussions on the Guidelines on Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) that will now go forward for adoption at the next CAC. While we believe the Guidelines are in themselves a risk we were pleased that we succeeded in several key concerns. The Guidelines will forbid health and nutrition claims and the general sale of RUTF (page down).


Report of the Codex Nutrition Meeting (CCNFSDU) 19 – 25 November and 1 December 2021

Thursday 25th November, key issues:  Conflicts of Interest, credibility of Codex science…

This final day focused on General Principles for the Establishment of Nutrition Reference values for babies 6-36 months, with Ireland taking the lead.  We repeated our many concerns about the credibility and independence of the science used by Codex, stating that for Codex to be effective it needs to be trustworthy. We mentioned our worry about multi-stakeholderism and gave the example of the recent partnership between FAO and a baby food company [Danone].  Perhaps in response (?) FAO gave a statement about its procedure for providing scientific advice.

Although this was not strictly part of the discussion, we asked how existing standards could be cleaned up – highlighting  the fact that the infant formula and follow-up formulas standards have three references to the meaningless term ‘history of safe use’ – a term that  industry has used for decades to establish trust in their products and new ingredients.

We pushed for Conflict of Interest safeguards and the WHO wording, “Relevant convincing / generally accepted scientific evidence or the comparable level of evidence under the GRADE classification.”  The EU once again was very helpful and expressed many concerns about the need for caution and proposed good wording calling for independent reviews of science.

Wednesday 24th November, key issues:  how sweet are products? how should they be described and labelled?

Carbohydrates (sweeteners) The meeting discussed the opinion of the Codex Committee of Methods of Analysis  (CCMAS)that there are currently no validated methods to measure the sweetness of carbohydrate sources. This gave some of the  countries and companies pushing the products, New Zealand, Australia, the US, the baby food industry (ISDI)  and others an opportunity to call for the deletion of a key sentence saying it would be difficult to regulate: “for products based on non milk protein, carbohydrate sources that have no contribution to sweet taste should be preferred and in no case sweeter than lactose.   A number of countries and observers  – Norway, Uruguay, Mexico, Brazil, EU, Chile, Switzerland, WHO, NHF, IBFAN and ENCA were very keen to limit of the level of sweetness in these products and supported the retention of the sentence.

We highlighted the obligation of all governments to reduce the 30% contribution of the food system to global Greenhouse Gas emissions and the inevitable growing public demand for plant-based products. If it is not possible to determine the sweetness of these highly processed, unnecessary  products, surely they should not be promoted. We also raised the fact that many countries have a serious conflict of interest and should be placing child and planetary health above trade concerns.

Definition and Name of the Product: Drink/product for young children with added nutrients or Drink for young children means a  product manufactured for use as a liquid part of the diversified diet of young children [which may contribute to the nutritional needs of young children] 1 In some countries these products are regulated as breast-milk substitute

Following a clear majority for the removal of the promotional text at the end of the definition the Chair agreed to its removal,  stating that there was no logic or meaning in nutrition terms.  However, the Chair refused to allow further discussion on the problematic aspects of labelling: cross promotion and the text “with added nutrients.” We asked why she had not used the same logic to guide the Committee on this critically important matter – advocated by the exporting countries who stood to gain.  The nutrients referred to are all industrially produced, not food-based so their efficacy will be very low. The addition of the words is deceptive and deliberately promotional to hide the risks of these ultra-processed products.

We reminded the Chair that the debate on labelling had been curtailed in November 2019 and that there had been no proper consensus on the key  issues of cross-promotion. The Chair had promised that the Baby Drinks (Section B) would remain open until the structure and preamble is finalised and the promotion of these products is settled.

Four names for the Product: The confusion and lack of consensus on these issues has led to the product having four different names: Product for young children; Drink for young children; Product for young children with added nutrients; Drink for young children with added nutrients.

Tuesday 23rd November, Key issues:   Flavourings will be forbidden for follow-up formulas 6-12months but permitted for drinks 12-36 months – although National or regional authorities may restrict or prohibit the use of the listed flavourings.

Debate focused on the essential ingredients for Follow-up formulas from 6 months  and Drinks for Young Children 12-36 months.  The most controversial issue was flavourings.  Following almost unanimous opposition from Member States a sentence was added stating that no flavorings will be permitted for follow-up formulas for older infants. However, despite strong opposition from many countries, WHO, UNICEF and public interest NGOs, fruit extracts and vanilla flavourings will be permitted for the baby drinks. Many developing countries already regulate these products as breastmilk substitutes so opposed any flavourings. The EU (representing 27 countries) also questioned the safety of fruit extracts as flavouring agents in that many contain additional compounds and also saw no technological need for them since children don’t seek flavoured products.  With no consensus reached, a compromise sentence was added: National or regional authorities may restrict or prohibit the use of the listed flavourings. The main countries pushing the flavourings were the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand along with industry front groups and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) who argued that a prohibition of flavours would put the baby drinks at a disadvantage to ‘less good’ products that don’t meet Codex standards. It is of huge concern that ESPGHAN continues to support so many industry positions at Codex, as the have done for so many years.

We argued that flavourings promote products and mislead parents and carers – especially if packages are idealised with images of  fresh fruits – that act as a health claim.  In reality these products pose many risks for young children in that they are highly processed, sweetened and displace breastfeeding, other fresh milks or other healthier family foods. Our call for no GM ingredients – supported by Ecuador – was not taken up.

What next for the FUF standard?  The crucial issues of the Preamble, the structure and whether marketing of these products should be covered by the Code and promotion banned, will not be decided until  early 2023.  IBFAN advocates one standard for infant formula, Formulas for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs), Follow-up Formula and Drinks for Young Children – so that all the products are properly safeguarded under the International Code and Resolutions and not promoted.  This should have been the very first thing Codex discussed.

22nd Nov:  The Guidelines on Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods will forbid health and nutrition claims and general sale. It also calls for use in an “appropriately designed programme that promotes continuation of breastfeeding, appropriate transition to nutritious family food and psycho-social support for recovery.

The discussions  spanned two days and the draft document will go to the next Codex Commission Meeting (CAC) for adoption. Together with UNICEF we succeeded in getting some important recommendations  through: RUTF should only be used in an appropriately designed programme; they should not be on general retail sale nor should they carry nutrition and health claims (IBFAN RUTF ). We failed to get a mention of re-lactation (supported by the USA, Colombia and Brazil) and a reference to the International Code and Resolutions (supported by India and other countries). This would have addressed problematic issues such as donations, cross branding with infant formula and other promotional tactics.

The Preamble will recommend that: RUTF should be used with an “appropriately designed programme that promotes continuation of breastfeeding, appropriate transition to nutritious family food and psycho-social support for recovery” that RUTF is a WHO recommended option; its use does not preclude other dietary  options including the use of locally based foods; RUTF is not for general retail sale.

The labelling section specifies that RUTF shall be used in conjunction with breastfeeding, that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding is recommended for up to two years and beyond, that RUTF should not be used under 6 months and should not carry nutrition or health claims.


Why Follow-up formulas are bad for the environment

Aside from the risks to child health, the global trade of these products will add an unnecessary burden to the environment“The most alarming finding in our research is a very large proportion of greenhouse gas emission impact is associated with the so-called growing up milks or toddler formula … In China, nearly half of the sales of milk formula is toddler formula. For the UK alone, carbon emission savings gained by supporting mothers to breastfeed would equate to taking between 50,000 and 77,500 cars off the road each year”. 

For more: The manufacture of breastmilk substitute products is pumping tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Dr. Julie Smith, Hon Ass Prof, Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health.

IBFAN Comments: IBFAN FUF scope etc   UNICEF FUF

Exporting countries put trade before the health of the planet and children. Nov 2019 


IBFAN, ILCA and ENCA also attended the Codex Food Labelling Committee  (27.9.21 – 7.10.21)

Front of Pack Nutrition labelling guidelines (FOPNL)  together UNICEF and partner NGOs we  made many interventions and succeeded in getting some safeguards into the draft Guidelines, including that they should be  government led. However, many weaknesses remain that will permit commercial exploitation of schemes that can be highly promotional. We wanted mandatory warnings and other safeguards.  Sustainability claims will come soon.


Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC 44) November and December 2021

Interventions made by IBFAN and ENCA:
Agenda Item 8 – (Matters arising from FAO and WHO) 
Thanks WHO for its work on COVID  and breastfeeding  and its celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes that helped counter misleading marketing;   Notes Civil Society opposition to the FSS Voluntary Guidelines because of its failure to promote sustainable changes in food systems,  its promotion of a risky governance model and its weak section on the International Code,  noting that the agro-industrial model  bears much of the blame for the climate crisis and poor diets, that Codex and Member States should regulate the promotion of ultra-processed products – especially when they are unnecessary and when their production leads to deforestation, land-grabbing, mono-cropping;    Shares WHO concern that   food safety  systems  protected from undue commercial influence.. 
 
Agenda Item 8.1 New Food Sources
Supports Norway on the need for independent oversight of new food sources,  warns that innovation will lead away from minimally processed,  bio-diverse foods to increased ultra-processing with all its incumbent risks.
 
Agenda 4.2 – contaminants –   with other observers supports Norway, EU and Russia – on MLs on Cadmium especially in relation to infants and young children
 
7 Food Additives
With other supporters expresses concern about  MLs  of additives in fruit juices especially in relation to infants and young children
 
Agenda Item 4.8.  Codex Committee on Food Labelling – FOPNL Guidelines
Welcomes that the FOPNL  Guidelines  call for government led –  but is concerned that a strong civil society call for  explicit reference to Conflicts on Interest and the need for mandatory systems, was not included.  Remains concerned that baby foods were not on the list of excluded products and urges MS to ensure that FOPNL is not used as a promotion for these products, as the Guidelines recommend  for alcohol).
 
Agenda Item 8.4  Codex Trust  Fund (Webinar:Move to 2.58 Day 6)
As mentioned in previous years since the initiation of the CTF,  we call for reassurance that the CTF does not and will not accept or seek funding from the Private Sector.  It is important that Member States are not subject to  Conflicts of Interest that might  affect their Human Rights obligations to protect their citizens.  

________________________________________________________________________

IBFAN COMMENT ON REVISION OF FOLLOW FORMULA STANDARD IBFAN FUF scope etc

General Comments

IBFAN considers that the text is NOT ready for adoption for the following reasons:

  • The lack of adequate safeguards to prevent inappropriate marketing of these products will lead to an increase of their needless use around the world as projected in business forecasts. WHO and other health authorities declare follow-on milks and toddler milks for young children “not necessary”. Continued breastfeeding is recommended for up to two years and beyond for optimal young child health, hence the use of these products, which function as breastmilk substitutes pose a risk to the health of young children during critical stages of growth and development. The current text will lead to children being fed inappropriate, expensive, highly processed products that pose health risks and do not meet their nutritional needs.
  • The current text fails to forbid the deceptive marketing strategy of cross promotion between product categories for drinks for young children, other formula and follow-up milks and products. The text in Section 9.6.5 forbids only references TO infant formula. Current marketing practices demonstrate that this is an insufficient safeguard. The text should clearly state that marketing of Drinks for Young Children should not ‘resemble’ share branding or cross promote infant formula, FSMPs and other drinks and foods marketed for infants and young children. Since the debate on this issue in the 41st CCNFSDU in November 2019 was brought to an early close through lack of time and since numerous Member States have stated that they would have preferred stronger language, the issue of cross promotion should be reopened at CCFSND42.
  • 9.6.5 The labelling of the product as defined in Section 2.1 shall not refer to,  RESEMBLE or Cross Promote infant formula, follow-up formula for older infants, or formula  for special medical purposes intended for infants, including numbers,  text, statements, or images of these products. 
  • On the issue of product definition, the overwhelming majority of countries and observers (28 plus 27 EU members (and more in CRDs)were in favour of the deletion of text that implies that these products may have added value for child nutrition. The EU cited the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific advice on young child formulae in 2013, that these products have “no unique role” and “cannot be considered as a necessity to satisfy the nutritional requirements of young children” when compared to other foods that may be included in their normal diet.  Only 14 countries proposed retaining the promotional text.
  • Drinks for young children are not necessary therefore it is critical that the ban on health and nutrition claims be mandatory. Claims will be deceptive and mislead parents and care givers into believing that the use of these products provide benefits that cannot be derived from breastmilk, animal milks, other drinks or complementary family foods.
  • Follow-on milks and drinks for young children must carry the warnings regarding intrinsic contamination for products in powdered form.
  • IBFAN maintains its original position that all four categories of products that FUNCTION as breastmilk substitutes – infant formulas, formulas for special medical purposes, follow-up formulas and drinks for young children – should be brought under one Codex standard that is divided into 4 parts with one overarching preamble.  It would then be clear that all products are covered by the marketing restrictions outlined in the International Code and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions, ie – they should not be promoted in any way.

______________________________________________________________________________

IBFAN COMMENT ON PROPOSED DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR READY TO USE THERAPEUTIC FOODS (RUTF) IBFAN RUTF

Summary: Children affected by severe acute malnutrition (SAM)  need  efficacious and timely treatment and RUTF is ONE of the options for the dietary treatment of children with uncomplicated SAM. However, it is critical that it’s use is appropriate and  does not undermine support for continued breastfeeding or re-lactation, since this is the most important requirement for the rehabilitation of children suffering from malnutrition.

It is also critically important to protect against commercial exploitation. The claim that they are helping feeding malnourished children is the perfect cover for the baby  industry’s predatory marketing tactics, and Codex Guidelines or Standards are used to fuel the opening up of global markets.

The current draft guidelines contain some good provisions, but on the question of promotion they rely on the weak safeguards contained in the Standard for Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) –  products that are on general sale. The FSMP standard does contain a ban on ‘advertising’  –  but this  far from adequate.  Above-the-line ‘advertising’ is the crudest form of commercial promotion and the Guidelines should clearly recommend prohibition of all commercial promotion,  including claims, (health, nutrition, convenience, etc) cross-promotion with infant formula, sponsorship and the myriad other forms of marketing currently used to maintain and expand the FSMP market.  Also the Guidelines fail to specifically ban promotional claims. Claims are MARKETING TOOLS that are not appropriate for therapeutic foods and are forbidden for foods for infants and young children by WHA Resolution 63.23.

Codex is proposing a very short Preamble to the Guidelines. IBFAN disagrees and believes that a well-defined preamble is essential.  It must  highlight the appropriate use of RUTFs and the safeguards and recommendations of WHO, UNICEF and WFP in order to stop the use of RUTF undermining  breastfeeding and sustainable,  culturally appropriate family-food based feeding of young children and local economies.   It is essential that the Preamble highlights the importance of breastfeeding and re-lactation support as the first option to promote optimal rehabilitation of children with uncomplicated SAM.

All these safeguards should be stated in the preamble, along with a clear prohibition for general sale,  to alert  all involved in the production, distribution, and implementation of care programs.

While accepting the caution regarding long lists of documents, it is surely most important to include the reference to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions, especially as this is specifically mentioned in Article 4.4 of the  Codex Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food, that states: “National authorities should be aware of their obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005) with regard to food safety events, including notification, reporting or verification of events to the World Health Organisation (WHO). They should also make sure that the international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes and relevant resolutions of the World Health Assembly (WHA) setting forth principles for the protection and promotion of breastfeeding be observed”

__________________________________________________________________

The FSMP safeguards are not a sufficient safeguard.  The Guidelines should contain a full Preamble, forbidding general sale and all forms of  marketing.

The labelling of RUTF for children from 6 to 59 months with SAM must be in accordance – NOT ONLY with the Standard for the Labelling of and Claims for Foods for Special Medical Purposes (CXS 180-1991), the General Standard for the Labelling of and Claims for Pre-packaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CXS 146-1985), and Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling (CXG 2-1985) BUT ALSO  the  Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health Claims (CXG 23-1997) that include a prohibition  on the use of nutrition and health claims for foods for infants and young children.

In addition to the proposed safeguards, the labelling of RUTF should include the following prominent additional safeguards and WARNINGS:

There should be no promotional claims

The products should not be flavoured

The product must only be used for the therapeutic treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition,  strictly under medical supervision

Potable  drinking water must be available for children receiving RUTF treatment.

The labelling of the product shall not  refer to, resemble or cross-promote infant formula, follow-up formula for older infants, or formula for special medical purposes intended for infants, including numbers,  text, statements, or images of these products. 

These products must only be used for the treatment of SAM and strictly under medical supervision.

Potable drinking water must be available for children receiving RUTF treatment 

Products are not to be sold on the open market

__________________________________________________________________________

Useful links:

FUF:  IBFAN FUF comment  

RUTF: WHO RUTF Meeting 19 MARCH 2019IBFAN-Codex-RUTF31.10.17-

Front of Pack Labelling: IBFAN COMMENT FOPN

WHO/UNICEF INFORMATION NOTE Crosspromotion of infant formula and toddler milks, WHO, 2018).

Worldwide Baby Food Drink Market In-depth Research Report 2021, Forecast to 2026, expects 7.7% growth from $68bn in 2020 to 91bn by 2026 – more than 30% in 5 years!

Codex Paper What You Don’t Know About the Codex Can Hurt You: How Trade Policy Trumps Global Health Governance in Infant and Young Child Nutrition.http://ijhpm.com. Int J Health Policy Manag 2021, x(x), 1–15. Katheryn Russ1*ID, Phillip Baker2ID, Michaela Byrd3, Manho Kang3ID, Rizki Nauli Siregar3ID, Hammad Zahid3, David McCoy4ID

Towards Building Comprehensive Legal Frameworks for Corporate
Accountability in Food Governance  Daniel Dorado1 · Sofía Monsalve2 · Ashka Naik1,3 · Ana María Suárez4

New publications from FAO and WHO:

CODEX COMMISSION (CAC 44) November and December 2021

Interventions made by IBFAN and ENCA:
Agenda Item 8 – (Matters arising from FAO and WHO) 
Thanks WHO for its work on COVID  and breastfeeding  and its celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes that helped counter misleading marketing;   Notes Civil Society opposition to the FSS Voluntary Guidelines because of its failure to promote sustainable changes in food systems,  its promotion of a risky governance model and its weak section on the International Code,  noting that the agro-industrial model  bears much of the blame for the climate crisis and poor diets, that Codex and Member States should regulate the promotion of ultra-processed products – especially when they are unnecessary and when their production leads to deforestation, land-grabbing, mono-cropping;    Shares WHO concern that   food safety  systems  protected from undue commercial influence.. 
 
Agenda Item 8.1 New Food Sources
Supports Norway on the need for independent oversight of new food sources,  warns that innovation will lead away from minimally processed,  bio-diverse foods to increased ultra-processing with all its incumbent risks.
 
Agenda 4.2 – contaminants –   with other observers supports Norway, EU and Russia – on MLs on Cadmium especially in relation to infants and young children
 
7 Food Additives
With other supporters expresses concern about  MLs  of additives in fruit juices especially in relation to infants and young children
 
Agenda Item 4.8.  Codex Committee on Food Labelling – FOPNL Guidelines
Welcomes that the FOPNL  Guidelines  call for government led –  but is concerned that a strong civil society call for  explicit reference to Conflicts on Interest and the need for mandatory systems, was not included.  Remains concerned that baby foods were not on the list of excluded products and urges MS to ensure that FOPNL is not used as a promotion for these products, as the Guidelines recommend  for alcohol).
 
Agenda Item 8.4  Codex Trust  Fund (Webinar:Move to 2.58 Day 6)
As mentioned in previous years since the initiation of the CTF,  we call for reassurance that the CTF does not and will not accept or seek funding from the Private Sector.  It is important that Member States are not subject to  Conflicts of Interest that might  affect their Human Rights obligations to protect their citizens.  

Codex Commission meeting unable to reach Consensus on growth hormone

After 9 days of   intense webinar meetings, the Codex Commission Meeting (CAC44) was unable to reach consensus over on a proposed standard for the controversial Growth Hormone Zilpaterol. Scott Tipps of the National Health Federation gives a   detailed account of what happened and the role played by Croplife – the front group of Monsanto – the manufacturer of Zilpaterol.

For webinars of the https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/meetings/extra/cac44-webcast/en/

Click on the playlist link in the top right hand corner to select the day you require.

INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON ZILPATEROL HYDROCHLORIDE

Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CVCs) will “ undertake informal consultations with all relevant parties to encourage and enable sustained effort to build consensus in advance of CAC45” and “to submit a report two months in advance of CCEXEC83 to inform its further monitoring and critical review, and then to inform further discussion at CAC45”.

Excerpt from Article on zilpaterol discussions by Scott  Tipps of NHF

Russia to the Rescue

On November 17th, the Commission “read the Report,” which means that the wording for the minutes of the meeting were carefully considered and generally agreed upon. NHF had made two comments that should have been included in the Final Report, but which were specifically excluded by the Chairman and the now not-so-friendly Codex Secretariat. NHF had mentioned on two separate occasions the antimicrobial-resistance problems caused by the use of glyphosate and Zilpaterol, respectively. In the former instance, my arguments for its inclusion fell on the deaf ears of the head table, despite the kind assisting arguments made by fellow INGO, the European Network of Childbirth Associations (ENCA). And in the latter instance, the Russian Federation delegate Anna Koroleva intervened on behalf of NHF to chastise the head table for refusing to place NHF’s comments on Zilpaterol into the Report. Both interventions on our behalf were much appreciated by NHF, but unfortunately ultimately proved fruitless in the face of the intransigent Chairman.

NHF’s comments were not the only ones deliberately omitted from the Final Report by the Chairman and Codex Secretariat. Important comments made during the meeting by ENCA and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) were refused as well. And, similarly, even Russia, a Codex member state, had no luck inserting into the Report “its concern that Zilpaterol posed a health risk to humans due to the huge risk for functional disorders and diseases of the cardiovascular system, and noting that according to their studies the results of JECFA risk assessment did not take into account vulnerable groups of people and people that have cardiovascular disease.”

With a newly elected CAC Chairman – the former Vice Chairman Mr. Steve Wearne of the UK – it remains to be seen if the Commission will continue to pursue its “industry can do no wrong” approach, supported by industry-financed research, or will consider consumer interests and concerns. Apparently, the Codex Secretariat has adopted a pro-industry approach that does not bode well for the future.

However, after the end of three weeks of truly grueling back-to-back Codex meetings in November 2021 (two weeks for the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) meeting and one week for the Codex Nutrition Committee (CCNFSDU) meeting), I am greatly encouraged by the pro-health and pro-consumer views of the Russian delegation, whose views on the issues important to NHF largely mirror our own. Couple those views with an outspoken spokeswoman who is not afraid to speak up when necessary, and this is a positive development for consumers. In fact, at one point during the meeting, I told the Russian delegate, Anna Koroleva, that it seemed as if she spoke out at Codex more for the interests of the American consumer than did the U.S. delegate! And indeed, she did.


 

 

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