On Board with Nestlé? Academics express concern over conflicts of interest Maverick Citizen: Academic independence https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-23-on-board-with-nestle-academics-express-concern-over-conflicts-of-interest/ (Photo: logos-world.net/Wikipedia) By Mark Heywood Follow 23 Nov 2021 1 Academics across the world have been expressing growing concern over what they describe as ‘corporate…
Will the baby food industry get their way at Codex? What’s happened so far
Will the baby food industry get their way at Codex or will Member Sates protect breastfeeding and child health? November 2021 IBFAN, ENCA, ILCA, HKI and partner NGOs have been attending many Codex Alimentarius meetings this Autumn. The Codex Committe…
IBFAN concerns about vulnerable groups and food safety
IBFAN to Dr. Branca. 27.10.21.Final Agenda Item 8.3 Codex Alimentarius Commission November 2021 IBFAN Food Safety Statement 2020 Dr Francesca Branca Director Nutrition and Food Safety World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20 1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland 27th September 2021 Dear…
COP26:The baby food industry’s needless destruction of an irreplaceable natural resource – a form of ecocide?
FINAL COP STATEMENT French translation The baby food industry’s destruction of an irreplaceable natural resource IBFAN Statement 5th Nov 2021 The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes [i] was adopted forty years ago by the World Health Assembly, the…
A Fatal Engagement – article by Arun Gupta
https://drarungupta.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-fatal-engagement.html (Child Health, Nutrition and its Governance, Public Policy and Politics) A Fatal Engagement Development of India’s food policy is dominated by the food industry and makers of chemical nutrients through their front groups or advisers-thus undermining the health of…
M8 Alliance Declaration: From Words to Action World Health Summit 2021
M8_Alliance_Declaration M8 Alliance Declaration: From Words to Action World Health Summit 2021 | October 26, 2021 The COVID–19 pandemic is far from over and we have to explore and implement innovative and effective measures to defeat this virus and to…
GLOBAL TRADE: Safer labelling on baby foods and drinks urgently needed
IBFAN FUF comment IBFAN RUTF comment IBFAN COMMENT FOPN IBFAN ENCA CRD 46th CCFL 3 Governments must take the lead on public health policies: Safer labelling for baby drinks and foods urgently needed. 46th Codex Committee on Food Labelling IBFAN…
Comments on UK DRAFT DHSC Guidance Notes
FINAL GUIDELINES https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infant-and-follow-on-formula-and-food-for-special-medical-purposes https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infant-and-follow-on-formula-and-food-for-special-medical-purposes/commission-delegated-regulation-eu-2016127-supplementing-regulation-eu-no-6092013-guidance DRAFT DHSC Guidance Notes on Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 (supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013) 16th August 2021 The UK has held a consultation on draft guidance on Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 for…
Nestlé cancels its ‘Free Stokvel Mom and Child Forum’ following protests
FOOD JUSTICE Nutrition activists urge Nestlé to cancel ‘Free Stokvel Mom and Child Forum’ saying it violates SA regulations By Mark Heywood and Michelle Banda• 12 August 2021 Note: At 8.50 am on Friday, August 13, this article was updated following…
US authorities remove breastfeeding newborn and prompt outrage
Authorities take 2nd child from ‘American Idol’ contestant, prompting outrage Syesha Mercado, who is fighting to get her toddler back, recorded deputies taking her newborn from her in an Instagram Live video. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1276796 ______________________________________________________________- Lancet: 40 years of the Code…
Closure of the EU Platform for Action on Diet
Closure of the EU Platform for Action on Diet_signed Dear Sir or Madam, Please be informed that in order to meet our obligations and objectives stemming from the new EU strategies related to public health (e.g. Farm to Fork Strategy,…
Will the Food Systems Summit protect human rights and breastfeeding – part of the first food system?
Will the Food Systems Summit protect human rights and breastfeeding – part of the first food system? Program With every day yet more news of climate and food crises, loss of biodiversity, mass extinction of species, rising social inequalities, conflicts…
World Breastfeeding Week 1-7th August
World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August,2021 Protecting breastfeeding – where lies the responsibility? World Breastfeeding week (WBW) is organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in 1-7th August. (WBW is celebrated in October in Europe.) IBFAN and partners will…
Join the civil society opposition the UN Food Systems Summit
Hundreds of grassroots organizations to oppose the UN Food Systems Summit Civil society and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations launch a global counter-mobilization against the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit from 25 to 28 July 2021 in Rome and online. Rome, Italy. 19…
Stop Ecocide amendment submitted to the UK Environment Bill
Baroness (Natalie) Bennett of Manor Castle, former leader of the UK Green Party, has submitted an ecocide amendment to the Environment Bill currently making its way through the House of Lords (the UK’s upper chamber). Stop Ecocide International, co-founded in…
Grassroots organizations oppose the UN Food Systems Summit
Grassroots organizations oppose the UN Food Systems Summit Rome, Italy. July 2021. “At a time when poverty rates, economic disparity, conflicts and hunger are rising, the Food Systems Summit and the N4G promote short term treatment models, with little attempt…
UK decision to slash foreign aid paves the way for private cash
The decision by the UK Government to slash foreign aid is being widely criticised as penny-pinching. We believe this misses the point. Surely the decision is not about saving cash at all, but part of a deliberate strategy to let…
Please help ensure an end to misleading promotion of risky, ultra-processed baby drinks.
The Deadline for the next round of Codex comments covering Drinks for young children (12-36 months) was 30th June.. The next and possibly final online nutrition meeting where a decision will be taken will be November. Click here for…
Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 92
Ask your MP to support the Code and Resolutions in full FIND YOUR MP EDM (Early Day Motion) 92: tabled on 24 May 2021 Thanks to long time Code supporter Alison Thewliss SNP for sponsoring this Early Day Motion following…
Join Civil society in challenging the UN Food Systems Summit
People’s Organisations Counter the UN Food Systems Summit The UN Food Systems Summit will take place in September in New York during the UN General Assembly, preceded by a Pre-Summit in Rome from 26 to 28 July. The Pre-summit will…
WATCH the 40th Anniversary Code and Global Breastfeeding Protection Day
WATCH THE EVENT HERE 40th Anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and launch of World Breastfeeding Protection Day. 21 May 2021 IBFAN films created by IBFAN Mexico and Brazil IBFAN film 7 minutes IBFAN Chronology: A…
74th World Health Assembly – stifling the voice of Civil Society
IBFAN is once again following the proceedings of the WHA74 taking place virtually from 24 May to 1 June 2021. This year, as part of the WHO Reform agenda WHO is now proposing to accept only grouped statements from NSAs…
Why the Nutrition for Growth Initiative is a threat to child health.
Powerpoint presentations: N4G GBC (2) Multistakeholder power Why the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) global pledging initiative is a threat to child health – how industry infiltrates the baby food policy space. “At a time when poverty rates, economic disparity,…
Bill Gates – vaccines, Lab-Grown Breast Milk and other things
The People v. Bill Gates Linsey McGoey https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2021/may/the-people-v.-bill-gates LRB blog, London Review of Books, 4 May 2021 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/podcasts/the-daily/coroanvirus-vaccine-bill-gates-covax.html?showTranscript=1 Can Bill Gates Vaccinate the World NYT Podcast http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.m875 Toll-free link: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.m875?ijkey=GJx0GA7Fxjp2kE8&keytype=ref Scientists Want to Ditch Formula for Lab-Grown Breast Milk Formula…
Boris Johnson, ‘dead bodies’ and selective amnesia on the EU
Guardian Letters Tue 27 Apr 2021 17.53 BST Tory sleaze and Boris Johnson’s careless words and deeds Les Bright, Denis MacShane, Martyn Taylor, David Wall, Patti Rundall and David Huggon respond to an article by Alan Finlayson and the latest…
Alarm over WHO Foundation ‘Thank you’ to Nestle
All those who know and worry about Nestlé’s appalling record on baby foods, water and ultra-processed products were appalled to see a Tweet from the newly formed WHO Foundation, thanking Nestlé for a donation. Please ask WHO Director General Dr…
Baby Food industry refuses to follow the Code – Call to Action is concluded
Baby Food industry refuses to follow the Code – Call to Action is concluded “…The BMS industry as a whole has sent a message that it is unwilling to fulfill its obligation to comply with global health policy that is…
Mark Thomas catches up on Nestlé
what’s Nestlé up to now? Join Mark Thomas, Geoff Atkinson and I for a look back over the years. The YouTube film will be available from the 25th April for one week. TICKETS £5 Move to the second hour for…
Australia: consultation on the industry voluntary self-regulatory agreement (MAIF)
Consultation on the Australian voluntary self-regulatory agreement (MAIF) The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is consulting on an application by the Infant Nutrition Council (INC) for re-authorisation for current and future manufacturers in, and importers into, Australia of infant…
New Lancet series: Revisiting maternal and child undernutrition
Revisiting maternal and child undernutrition in low-income and middle-income countries: variable progress towards an unfinished agenda Prof Cesar G Victora, MD Prof Parul Christian, DrPH Luis Paulo Vidaletti, MSc Giovanna Gatica-Domínguez, PhD Purnima Menon, PhD Prof Robert E Black, MD…
Food Standards Agency International Conference
I attended the Food Standards Agency International conference today. (note that the FSA is no longer responsible for nutrition in England and Wales) Supporting an evolving world – International co-operation and regulation Chair: Steven Wearne, Vice Chair at Codex…
Journal of Human Lactation interviews
The Journal of Human Lactation has been publishing a series of interviews of people who have been instrumental in the formation of the Code and Resolution. Here are 3 of the interviews that were conducted by Maryse Arendt, IBCLC, BSEd. …
CFS47 Statements made by Member States, the UN and others
Some notable Excerpts from Statements made on February 10th WHO (and UNICEF) In the context of the negotiation we have expressed the concern that, in the spirit of compromise the text of the Voluntary Guidelines does not fully reflect the…
EU-led Draft Resolution on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies
IBFAN Proposed amendments EU-led Draft Resolution on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies 74th session of the WHA, May 2021 IBFAN is grateful to the EU for giving Civil Society organisations the opportunity to contribute to draft Resolutions.…
“Improper political interference” in US baby foods puts health and scientific integrity at stake .
News stories about baby foods, toxins, improper political interference are ruffling feathers… US Oversight Subcommittee Staff Report Reveals Top Baby Foods Contain Dangerous Levels of Toxic Heavy Metals (Feb 4th 2021) News Release from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Feb…
The Code and other safeguards threatened by UN Voluntary Guidelines on Food
The Code and other safeguards threatened by corporate friendly Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition. The Plenary session of the UN Committee on Word Food Security (CFS47) ended on the 11th February, after several weeks of intense negotiations over…
Is Danone a good model to follow? IBFAN questions Dr Mark Carney
The 2020 Reith Lectures, aired on BBC Radio 4 in December, were inspiring and enlightening on many levels. However we were surprised to hear Dr Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Change and Finance, praising Danone as an example of…
WHO moves almost enough on the sun-setting of the Code – 10,000 support IBFAN’s call
Click Here for all IBFAN statements WHO moves ‘almost far enough‘ on sun-setting of the Code – 10,000 support IBFAN’s call 148th WHO Executive Board Meeting (EB148) (18 – 26th January 2021) In November we wrote about the proposals to…
IBFAN statements for EB149
IBFAN statements at EB148 Unfortunately – none of our statements were read – partly because of technical issues – partly because the Chair decided not to allow any NSA statements on that issue. All three statements will remain on the …
LLLi petition gains over 22,000 endorsers for IBFAN’s statements
Latest news on sun setting see Policy Blog We thank LLLi for this petition and the 22,000 endorsers for IBFAN’s statements on the Sunsetting of reporting on the Code and our Counter Call on the BMS Call to Action. We…
News Update: Vaccines and breastfeeding
New WHO Guidance: Interim recommendations for use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, under Emergency Use Listing and a direct quote. SAGE Recommendations:https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-vaccines-SAGE_recommendation-BNT162b2-2021.1 “Lactating women Breastfeeding offers substantial health benefits to lactating women and their breastfed children. Vaccine efficacy is expected…
UK consultations on composition of baby foods, online marketing GMOs
UK Consultations: The regulation of genetic technologies Deadline: 17.3.21 DRAFT Public Health England (PHE) proposals for 2023 commercial baby food and drink guidelines. DEADLINE 5th January 2021 BMA-response FSNT Response Total restriction of online advertising for products high in fat,…
How companies exploit the COVID-19 crisis
How companies are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic pretending their marketing through digital social media is ‘Humanitarian’ and that their products build immunity. Examples of Nestlé’s widespread promotion of NanGrow 3 – for babies over one. Nestlé implies that the…
COVID-19 WHO and UNICEF stress the importance of breastfeeding
COVID-19 WHO and UNICEF stress the importance of breastfeeding WHO and UNICEF are aiming to have consistent, sound reliable information based on the best available scientific evidence – guidance that will be updated as new evidence comes forward. We hope…
New UK consultations on baby foods and online marketing
Nov 2020 DRAFT PHE proposals for 2023 commercial baby food and drink guidelines. We expect another consultation on marketing and labelling soon with a deadline of January 5th 2021. _____________________________________________________________________________ New public consultation on total ban of online advertising…
New Research and other papers
Breastmilk Harbors Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 An abundance of immunoglobulin antibodies, and a paucity of viral RNA, in breastmilk offer evidence that women can safely continue breastfeeding during the pandemic. Ashley Yeager. Nov 17, 2020 https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/breastmilk-harbors-antibodies-to-sars-cov-2-68162 ______________________________________________ Published today: …
No ‘sunsetting of the Code ’ please! Babies need vigilence us to be needed
IBFAN statement WHA73 delivered 10.11.20 No ‘sunsetting of the Code please’ – babies need us to be vigilant Resumed online 73rd World Health Assembly 9-14th November 2020 WHA 73 website LIVE WEBCAST Participants list A new draft Decision…
Codex developments: Follow on Formula, RUTF, Biofortification
43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. (CAC). 24/09/2020 – 06/11/2020 Virtual, See Press Release from last Year: CODEX: Exporting countries put trade before the health of the planet and children. See previous Blog with links to our detailed comments.…
IBFAN’s Counter-Call to WHO and UNICEF to STOP 10 year-licence to harm children.
This blog was published in July 2020 and updated in November 2020 STOP Press: Of the seventeen responses to the Call to Action- none meet the criteria. Time to move on and focus on helping governments legislate? Statements of support…
LLL and FIAN International, join IBFAN’s Counter Call
Support for IBFAN’s Statement re WHO/UNICEF “Call to Action” 26 October 20 Categories: News From LLLI, Uncategorized La Leche League International (LLLI), as an international breastfeeding support organization, has a responsibility to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding by upholding the…