145th WHO Executive Board. 29-30th May The 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva has now ended CLICK here for IBFAN’s statements. We are also tracking WHO’s transformation processes and governance reforms – and will deliver the statement below today at…
IBFAN protecting child health at the 72nd World Health Assembly
With Fedora Bernard, Katie Campbell, Britta Boutry Stadelmann IBFAN’s team is covering this year’s World Health Assembly that is taking place in Geneva from 20-28th May. It will be followed by a 2-day meeting of the Executive Board (EB). You…
Commercial interests, transparency, and independence: a call for submissions
PDF Commercial interests, transparency, and independence: a call for submissions. Help the move towards independence from commercial interests. Submissions are welcome from now, with a final deadline of 15 January 2020. Ray Moynihan assistant professor 1, Helen Macdonald UK research…
IBFAN’s 3rd Breastfeeding Conference:Breastfeeding and healthy complementary feeding.
Sign up for IBFAN’s 3rd Breastfeeding Conference: Breastfeeding and healthy complementary feeding. Rio Nov 11-15th http://www.enam.org.br/ingles/index.php The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) with the support of the Government of Brazil and public universities, proudly host a joint meeting of…
EAT-Lancet Commission’s report on sustainable health and planetary boundaries
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/unhealthy-diet-bigger-killer-than-tobacco/articleshow/68759153.cms https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/science/diet-vegetables.html I attended the debate on the EAT-Lancet Commission’s report on sustainable health and planetary boundaries on 20th February 2019. The report recommends radical changes to a low meat/high veg diet and more sustainable, extensive farming…
New BBC exposé of British Lord Ahmed – former Nestlé advisor.
A BBC2 Newsnight report on 14th February 2019. 10.30 pm about former Labour peer Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, was soon followed on 1st March with news of charges of attempted rape of girl. Lord Ahmed is also charged with indecent…
Royal College of Pediatrics will no longer accept funding from formula companies
Click here and here for previous blogs. Click here for Quartz article Royal college stops taking funding from formula milk firms BMJ 2019; 364 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l743 (Published 14 February 2019) Cite this as: BMJ 2019;364:l743 https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/rcpch-statement-relationship-formula-milk-companies RCPCH statement on relationship…
Risks of WHO and Privately Funded groups
WHO’s Plan to Jointly Work With Privately-Funded Groups Threatens Its Credibility A number of non-state actors seeking renewal of their official relation status with the WHO receive funding from pharmaceutical, food and alcohol industries. WHO Executive Board holding its 144th…
New articles on conflicts of interest and other things
Broadening its donor base and non-state actors – Does WHO really have a choice when it comes to financing? Priti Patnaik. Weekly IHP news: http://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/ ___________________________________________________________ Article on WHO by Alison Katz. Le Courrier 20.1.2019 Health for All https://lecourrier.ch/2019/01/20/liberer-loms-du-joug-neoliberal/ HforAll40yearsSept2018…
IBFAN at WHO’s Executive Board: tackling commercialisation of health care systems
Good article in Health Policy Watch 24th January – 1st February I’ve been at the WHO Executive Board meeting since 24th January – joining IBFAN GIFA colleagues Alessia Bigi and Fedora Bernard and partner…
UK Paediatricians protest at formula company sponsorship of RCPCH Conference in Egypt
Paediatricians and heath campaigners have written to the President of the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to protest about its decision to allow an international conference in Egypt to be sponsored by baby food companies Nestlé,…
Why ‘No Deal’ would be a disaster for human health.
Baby Milk Action supporters will be aware that EU Legislation on baby food marketing fails to meet WHO marketing requirements However in terms of food safety and Human Rights, EU laws are some of the world’s strongest and at Codex…
Nestlé in trouble for ‘influencing doctors to prescribe baby food’ in India
https://theprint.in/governance/nestle-in-trouble-for-influencing-doctors-to-prescribe-baby-food-in-india/175659/amp/?__twitter_impression=true Nestlé in trouble for ‘influencing doctors to prescribe baby food’ in India Himani Chandna New Delhi: Swiss food giant Nestlé is under the lens for allegedly influencing doctors to recommend its baby products, including infant milk powder, to parents. …
Time for complete transparency about conflicts of interest in public health nutrition research
published on HRB Open Research Open Letter Time for complete transparency about conflicts of interest in public health nutrition research Marita Hennessy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9517-6380 1, Katherine Cullerton. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9517-6380 2, Phil Baker3, Amy Brown4, Helen Crawley5, Catherine Hayes. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1576-4623 6, Patricia M. Kearney7, Colette Kelly8, Martin McKee https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0121-9683 9, Melissa Mialon10, Mark Petticrew9, Patti…
Trust WHO: The Business of Global Health
Trust WHO: The Business of Global Health Investigating the hidden motives behind actions of the World Health Organisation and the real powers that control it. 15 Dec 2018 Available now to buy or rent from these video on demand platforms:…
Indian media coverage: Are baby food makers driving overdiagnosis of cow milk allergy? Doctors call on Government
Recent articles: The Times of India and Telegraph (India) Are baby food makers driving overdiagnosis of cow milk allergy Rema Nagarajan | TNN Doctors raise baby food alert Call to govt to act against covert promotion G.S. Mudur in New…
Exclusive Investigative Report: Harvard’s Pediatric Nutrition Star Comes Under Scrutiny for Conflicts of Interest
PLEASE NOTE : the link to the Nestle Boycott embedded in this article takes you back to Nestle’s own website – with Nestlé’s spin on the history of the campaign. https://womensenews.org/2018/12/exclusive-investigative-report-harvards-pediatric-nutrition-star-comes-under-scrutiny-for-conflicts-of-interest/?fbclid=IwAR1I3mXnNfAuc8dIxKfzHIZydH6CBd5kIQQWIHOIkkJA1Tmg_bQjyDZeSmA https://womensenews.org/2013/12/formula-marketers-put-pediatric-academy-in-the-bag/ Exclusive Investigative Report: Harvard’s Pediatric Nutrition Star…
Baby Milk Action response:EU Brexit Consultation – The Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
UK Brexit Consultation. The Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 Baby Milk Action Comment Baby Milk Action IBFAN UK EU Chronology Consultation description This two week consultation conducted by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) ended on Friday 14th.…
Investigation reveals how cows’ milk protein allergy is extending the reach of infant formula manufacturers
Similar article 10 December 2018 By DR CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN FOR THE DAILY MAIL As the industry is accused of scaring mums off breastfeeding, don’t be fooled by the milk formula machine! BMJ Wednesday 5 December 2018 PDF of the…
Nestle drops scientific meeting on baby food
PDF https://www.telegraphindia.com/health/nestle-drops-scientific-meet-on-baby-food/cid/1675573 Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India sees no science in the session, just industry promotion By G.S. Mudur in New Delhi Published 17.11.18, 2:51 AM Updated 17.11.18, 9:46 AM The global food-maker Nestle cancelled a “scientific session”…
IBFAN’s comments after the Frankfurt meeting convened by Meridian Institute
IBFAN’s comments after the Frankfurt meeting convened by Meridian Institute Thanks to GIFA for this post. News > IBFAN’s comments after the Frankfurt meeting convened by Meridian Institute Despite IBFAN’s November 2017 Call to Action, Meridian Institute (MI) convened the…
Urgent call to protect child health from harmful trade rules
The UN committee that deals with trade – the Codex Committee on Nutrition – will be meeting in Berlin from 24th -30th November 2018. CLICK HERE for background This is a critically important meeting for child health and IBFAN and…
The resurgent influence of big formula:Education on infant feeding must not be left to industry
14_Press_Cutting_bmj.k3577.full BMJ 2018;362:k3577 doi: 10.1136/bmj.k3577 (Published 23 August 2018) The resurgent influence of big formula Education on infant feeding must not be left to industry Natalie S Shenker Human Milk Foundation In May, word spread from the World Health…
More media coverage following President Trump’s tweet.
The media coverage following the New York Times exposé continues with over 600 online editorial articles and about 900 social media posts. Below are just some of the recent articles and programs including one from 2015 that gives an insight…
Conflicts of Interest and US pressure at the Codex meeting in Rome
41st CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy. 2-6 July 2018 REPORT CLICK HERE for press release on the Codex Nutrition meeting in Germany, December 2017 See Consultation Page for our latest submission on the proposed structure for a revised…
U.S. Opposition to Breast-Feeding Resolution Stuns World Health Officials
CLICK HERE for stories so far: CLICK HERE for the The New York Times‘ Editorial Board denouncement of the United States’ bullying at the World Health Assembly. U.S. Opposition to Breast-Feeding Resolution Stuns World Health Officials A Brooklyn mother unable…
Draft Council conclusions Healthy Nutrition for Children: The Healthy Future of Europe
Draft Council conclusions Healthy Nutrition for Children: The Healthy Future of Europe Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council session on 22 June 2018 Conclusions on “Healthy nutrition for children: The healthy future of Europe” On 26 April 2018,…
Tackling Conflicts of Interest at the Zero Hunger Conference in Ecuador
The Third Zero Hunger Summit brought together experts from 35 countries and nine presidents to analyze mechanisms to combat nutrition problems in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca. Several former presidents, including Oscar Arias (Costa Rica) and Nobel Peace Prize winner…
New ‘final’ draft 14 May: Help get a strong World Health Assembly Resolution that protects mothers and babies.
Please tweet your MP and the following people to ask the UK to support a strong Resolution next week. Remind them that the protection of breastfeeding and conflict of Interest safeguards are urgently needed for babies everywhere. http://www.babymilkaction.org/archives/17081 Penny Mordaunt @PennyMordaunt …
WHO in the claws of the lobbyists – on You tube
WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? L’OMS : dans les griffes des lobbyistes ? This documentary film by Arte was broadcast in 2017 and is now available on Youtube. This is a hard hitting film featuring several IBFAN partners…
Could your health visitor win the Julie Crawford Award 2018?
Could your Health Visitor win the 2018 Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support? Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support 2018 Nominations are now OPEN The Baby Feeding Law Group is seeking nominations for the Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support.…
Conflicts of Interest concerns about three members of WHO’s new High-level Commission on NCDs
In response to the call for comments on WHO’s proposals for an Independent Global High-level Commission on NCDs I sent the comments below, outlining our serious concerns about the appropriateness of three of the proposed Commissioners, who will have an ‘advisory’ role: Arnaud…
Larsson-Rosenquist Family’s vested interest in Medela
https://www.ibfan-icdc.org/conflict-of-interest-the-breastfeeding-friendly-country-index-project/ 28 OCT 2015 CONFLICT OF INTEREST – THE BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY COUNTRY INDEX PROJECT Posted at 10:06h in Code Related by Ibfan-Penang 0Likes We anticipate that in the near future, many (mothers, health workers, and public health advocates, etc.) will…
G2H2 the Geneva Global Health Hub – pre meeting before
WHO governance: The conversation continues Civil society meetings related to WHO EB142, 19-20 January 2018 Baby Milk Action is a member of the Geneva Global Health Hub G2H2 that was launched during a civil society side event at the 69th World…
New paper: Attempts to Redefine Conflicts of Interest in Medicine
Attempts to Redefine Conflict of Interest. Accountability in Research. December 6, 2017. Marc A. Rodwin. DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2017.1405728 English version HERE French version: HERE Abstract: The traditional legal concept of conflict of interest is a practical tool to regulate conduct. In…
French and US Trade delegations put child health at risk
CLICK HERE for PDF in Spanish French and US Trade delegations put child health at risk 39th Codex Alimentarius Nutrition Committee (CCNFSDU), Berlin, Germany 4th – 8th December 2017 The nutrition committee of the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission – the UN body…
French Government calls for global withdrawal of Lactalis formulas
French Government calls for global withdrawal of Lactalis formulas. 14.12.2017 It took almost ten days for the Government of France to react to the scandal of widespread contamination of powdered formula milks produced by the giant French dairy producer Lactalis.…
New Codex comment on Follow-up Formula
IBFAN’s new comment on the revision of the Follow-up Standard (Codex Stan 156-1987) Please share with your country delegates Codex paper IBFAN’s point by point comments on Follow-up Formula CLICK HERE IACFO’s comments are the same as IBFAN’s CLICK HERE…
New DRAFT: IBFAN comments on WHO’s Plan of Work
STOP PRESS: WHO has now published its draft 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13). English Strategy on a page WHO Impact Framework http://www.who.int/about/gpw-thirteen-consultation/en/ “The draft 13th General Programme of Work will be discussed at a Special Session of WHO’s Executive…
International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) and Conflicts of Interest
Look at who the Niti Aayog is consulting October 26, 2017, 6:31 PM IST Rema Nagarajan in Staying Alive | India | Times of India DISCLAIMER : Views expressed below are the author’s own. International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is globally known for…
World Bank must stop promoting “dangerous” public-private partnerships
Click Here: PPP for the Statement, World Bank must stop promoting “dangerous” public-private partnerships Brussels/Washington DC, October 11 2017. A new campaign aimed at reversing the dangerous rush to promote expensive and high-risk public-private partnerships (PPPs) was launched today by civil…
Corporate power on show at the Conservative conference
Baby Milk Action is not aligned to any political party. Here are some of the notable things I spotted at the Conservative Conference in Manchester in October. Sugar and Nuclear power: With hardly any fringe events on health on the agenda, I was still…
New Guidance to protect Infant health in Emergencies.
The new, updated Operational Guidance for Emergency Relief Staff and Programme Managers , developed by the IFE Core Group is now available. Version 3 October 2017 (IBFAN is a member of the IFE Core Group) The Guidance is also available…
Mexican Appeal to protect breastfeeding – Nestle sends unsolicited formula
For the new Emergency guidance CLICK HERE Following the terrible events in Mexico, our IBFAN colleagues in Latin America prepared an appeal to the Secretary of Health, Mexico, to protect breastfeeding in this difficult situation. Sept 9. The same day…
Tobacco industry ploy to get its feet under the table?
Whatever happened to the word ‘independent’? Click here for a response from WHO PDF ‘Philip Morris pledges $1bn to stub out tobacco smoking’, Financial Times, Sept 13, 2017. Andrew Jack https://www.ft.com/content/d9acceae-97d5-11e7-a652-cde3f882dd7b Derek Yach – ex WHO, ex Senior Vice…
Global Monitoring Reports
Global monitoring Reports on baby food marketing
Some useful new articles about how business works
How Big Business Got Brazil Hooked on Junk Food As growth slows in wealthy countries, Western food companies are aggressively expanding in developing nations, contributing to obesity and health problems. As growth slows in wealthy countries, Western food companies are aggressively…
Babies and mothers worldwide failed by lack of investment in breastfeeding
CLICK HERE for UNICEF analysis of Press coverage JOINT PRESS RELEASE 1 August 2017 New analysis shows an investment of US$4.70 per newborn could generate US$300 billion in economic gains by 2025 GENEVA/NEW YORK, 1 August 2017 – No country in the…
Bernadette Wood acceptance speech for Julie Crawford Award 2017
The Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support for 2017 has been won by Bernadette (Bernie) Wood, a Health Visitor from Suffolk County Council’s Children’s and Young Peoples Services. She was presented the Award today on behalf of the Baby Feeding…
Human Milk Banks – watch out for commercial exploitation.
The need for safeguards against commercial exploitation of Human Milk collection is explained in This new article by IBFAN’s Central Coordinator for Asia. India is planning a network of human breast-milk banks but first needs to put safeguards in place Breast-milk collected…