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 10,000 endorsers for IBFAN’s statements
Latest news on sun setting see Policy Blog We thank LLLi for this petition and the 10,000 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.
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 for IBFAN’s Counter Call from UNICEF former Deputy Directors: Kul Gautam and…
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…
Former UNICEF Deputy Exec. Directors join IBFAN’s Counter Call
Kul Gautum, former deputy executive director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations LINK Dear Charlotte, It has come to my attention and that of many UNICEF retirees, that in June 2020, UNICEF and WHO along with several…
Bill Gates – Lab-Grown Breast Milk and other things
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 has come a long way, but it still lacks many nutrients and takes a toll on the…
Codex boosts the trade of UPFs, ignoring the risks to health, biodiversity and the planet.
BABY MILK ACTIONS NEWSLETTER – UD49 Codex boosts the trade of UPFs, ignoring the risks to health, biodiversity and the planet The 43rd Codex Commission (CAC43) is meeting this week ( 24, 25, 26 September) and discussing some important…
Update 49 – Harm caused by the exploitation of Covid, ultra-processing and more
CLICK HERE for UD49 Please let us know if you would like to join Baby Milk Action as a member (to join see www.babymilkacion.org/shop. Our Annual General Meeting (an online Webinar) is open to our members on Tuesday, 29th…
Codex ignores risks to health and the planet of the global trade of ultra-processed foods.
Codex boosts the trade of UPFs, ignoring the risks to health and the planet. The 43rd Codex Commission (CAC43) is meeting this week ( 24, 25, 26 September) and will discuss some important issues. Thankfully, CAC is much more…
Ultra Processing: What are its risks to health, biodiversity and the planet?
The risks of Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs) The obesity crisis is, at last, prompting some governments to take action on the marketing of foods high in salt, sugar and fat. But the risks of Ultra-Processing to health, biodiversity and the…
News, articles and action you can take on UK US trade deals
Exclusive: UK trade minister reverses decision to remove think tank meetings from public register By William James, Andy Bruce 09/03/2020 LONDON (Reuters) – British trade minister Liz Truss has reversed a decision to remove meetings she held with an influential…
The baby brands turning Indonesian Instagram into free formula ads
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism The baby brands turning Indonesian Instagram into free formula ads Published July 30 2020 By Rosa Furneaux Multinational baby formula companies, such as Nestlé and Danone, are using social media to market to consumers…
Benjamin’s Poem for World Breastfeeding Week: Whistle to mothers
Following the World Breastfeeding Week 2020 theme, IBFAN Uganda worked with one of the five schools that is supported to promote breastfeeding. This is the result that IBFAN Uganda is sharing. Do take a look and share. It will make…
WHO UNICEF: World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message
World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message Joint message: UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 31 July 2020 Statement The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”. In line with…
Citizen-Petition-argues-toddler-milks-threaten-children-s-health-and-pose-economic-harm-to-families
Thanks to Marsha Walker for sending this good news from the USA regarding action on. the marketing of follow-on/toddler milks. Citizen-Petition-argues-toddler-milks-threaten-children-s-health-and-pose-economic-harm-to-families In a Citizen’s Petition, children’s health advocates are ramping up pressure on FDA to curb the rapidly growing sales…
Is ZeroSeparation Astrofturfing? How business groups use babies to recruit allies
A new Zero Separation campaign was launched on 9th July by the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn infants (EFCNI) through an entity called GLANCE – the Global Alliance for Newborn Care. You can see the host on NGOs…
Nestle targets Brazilian Medical students
Our Brazilian colleagues have told us about a Nestlé J.Pedia online learning program that was launched in June. The program has targeted 15,000 24/25 year old medical students – offering consultant positions, in exchange for signed contracts and the publishing…
IBFAN and 630 NGOs sound alarm over wave of Covid-19 claims in ‘corporate courts’
630 civil society groups sound alarm over wave of Covid-19 claims in ‘corporate courts’ Groups in more than 90 countries warn ISDS system could be used to claim billions from governments over pandemic protections Countries could be facing a wave…
Webinars: Protecting Breastfeeding in the time of Covid-19
You are welcome to join this Webinar on Protecting Breastfeeding in the Time of COVID-19: Implementation of the Code in Asia on Wednesday June 24 at 2:00PM Bangkok time. To participate please register HERE as soon as possible.
Launch of WBTi Evaluation 12 June – Tracking National actions makes a difference
“Making A Difference- An Evaluation Report of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) in Mobilising National Actions on Breastfeeding and IYCF: 2020”. Date: 12 June 2020, 01:00 PM (GMT) To participate please register HERE Executive Summary Full Report Press Release …
IBFAN statement for World Food Safety Day, 7th June 2020
IBFAN STATEMENT World Food Safety Day June 7, 2020 Food Safety Everyone’s Business The WHO initiative, its second World Food Safety Day aims to draw attention to the need to prevent foodborne risks, contribute to food security, human health economic…
Shocking gaps in emergency preparedness for Europe’s babies, new report shows
PRESS RELEASE Split, Croatia Thursday, 4th June 2020 Summary report Full report Press Release. Research article The Covid 19 pandemic has shown how important it is for countries to protect their…
PRESS RELEASE: Launch of the WHO UNICEF IBFAN Global Code Report. Recordings and presentations
WHO has published the recording and presentations of the launch here: Access password: CLICK HERE #Code2020 Download presentations Remarks on behalf of IBFAN Mexico 2020 Code Status Report results and findings Code violations in Indonesia The Practitioner view Moderator: Chris…
IBFAN alerts the World Health Assembly to baby food exploitation of Covid-19
IBFAN alerts the 73rd World Health Assembly to baby food exploitation of COVID-19 The May 2020 session of the World Health Assembly was a virtual two day meeting focusing on COVID-19 18/19th May. IBFAN’s written statement reaffirmed our support for…
US Objects to ‘Equitable Access’ language in EU-led draft Resolution on Covid-19
WHO Member States Agree On Draft Resolution For COVID-19 Response – Overriding US Objections to ‘Equitable Access’ Elaine Ruth Fletcher, 14 May 2020 World Health Organization member states reached initial agreement today on a European Union-led draft resolution on global…
Covid-19: research and media reports
Research on COVID and breastmilk Evidence of a significant secretory-IgA-dominant SARS-CoV-2 immune response in human milk following recovery from COVID-19 Alisa Fox1, Jessica Marino2, Fatima Amanat3, Florian Krammer3, Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook2, Susan Zolla-Pazner1, and Rebecca L. Powell1* 1Department of Medicine, Division…
Health and nutrition claims for infant formula are poorly substantiated and potentially harmful
Guidance for the Conduct and Reporting of Clinical Trials of Breast Milk Substitutes Another important paper has been published in JAMA using the output from a global Delphi project which aims to protect breastfeeding when clinical trials of BMS are…
Civil Society Org Urges Amitabh Bachchan and Union Health Minister to Stop Promotion of Separation of Covid +ve mothers and their babies
Press Release Civil Society Organisation Urges Amitabh Bachchan and Union Health Minister to Stop Promotion of Separation of Covid +ve mothers and their babies Promoting a “Bottle- feeding” culture is NO good for us 29.April.2020, New Delhi : According to…
WHO May Host Virtual World Health Assembly May 18 – COVID-19 To Be Main Agenda Item
WHO May Host Virtual World Health Assembly May 18 – COVID-19 To Be Main Agenda Item https://www.healthpolicy-watch.org/who-may-host-virtual-world-health-assembly-meeting-may-18-with-covid-19-main-agenda-topic/ For the first time ever, the World Health Assembly appears set to meet in a one-day virtual session on May 18, which…
Call for a novel CERN with patent free collaboration
CERN’s convention: “The Organization shall have no concern with work for military requirements and the results of its experimental and theoretical work shall be published or otherwise made generally available.” The need for global collaboration on science with safeguards against…
NGOs join forces to support WHO following US threats to withdraw funding
SID article IBFAN statement of support to WHO 11th April 2020 The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and partner civil society organisations are joining forces to support the World Health Organisation in the face of attacks on its Director General,…
Trump’s blame game against the WHO: the wrong move in the global endeavour to manage the Covid19 pandemic
ARTICLE by SID Trump’s blame game against the WHO: the wrong move in the global endeavour to manage the Covid19 pandemic It is classical syndrome of hate-mongering governments to nervously seek and blame “others” for responsibilities and failures that…