Following the publication of new Guidance from the Royal College of Midwives there has been a flurry of media interest and some simply appalling media coverage that totally distorts the intent of the guidance. Click Here Thank heavens for Baby…
State of the Code Charts 2018 – how well have countries done in protecting babies?
15 May, 2018 Every two years since 1986, IBFAN-ICDC publishes the State of the Code by Country (SOCC), an easy-to-view chart listing the status of 198 countries in Code implementation. Findings of the SOCC 2018 reflect that 36 countries have…
PDFs added and weblink for Press Conference: Health governance in the public interest?
Health governance in the public interest? WHO redefines conflicts of interest and risks undermining public health mandates Watch the webcast of this excellent Press Conference: http://pressclub.ch/health-governance-in-the-public-interest/?lang=en Here are the Presentations by David Klemperer and Judith Richter Note: Among the many things worth noting were…
Save the Children Children Don’t Push it report: How formula milk firms target mothers who can least afford it
Save the Children has published an important new report Don’t push it that clearly shows that the Baby food industry is continuing to use marketing practices that undermine breastfeeding and child health, while pretending to abide by the World Health…
40 years ago, the Kennedy Hearings put the baby food industry under the spotlight
US Senate Hearings, Infant formula in Developing countries, 23rd May 1978 This is an important compilation of excerpts of the testaments given at the Senator Edward Kennedy Hearing. The Hearing helped prompt the eventual adoption of the International Code in…
John Bolton’s record on the marketing of baby foods
John Bolton’s record on the marketing of baby foods John Bolton, President Trump’s new national security adviser is considered by many to be the man most likely to lead the US into war. The New York Times: “Mr. Bolton, in…
Changes to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Changes to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative IBFAN together with 4 other breastfeeding organisations ( WABA, ILCA, LLLI and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Network of Industrialized Nations, Central and Eastern European Nations and Independent States (BFHI Network) have worked over the past months on the…
Teaching Surrogate mothers to breastfeed
Evening Standard Wednesday, 14th March 2018 Pioneering London initiative teaches surrogate mothers to breastfeed ROSS LYDALL Justine White received an award from the British Journal of Midwifery for her work with mothers Women who become mothers via a surrogate are…
Plastic particles found in bottled water
Plastic particles found in bottled water David Shukman BBC Science editor CLICK HERE http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43388870 Tests on major brands of bottled water (including Nestlé and Danone) have found that nearly all of them contained tiny particles of plastic. In the largest investigation of…
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.…
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…
Joint Statement on the care of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
IYCF-E Joint Statement Bangladesh_final INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING in EMERGENCIES JOINT STATEMENT ON ACTION Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UN Agencies (UNICEF, WHO and WFP) and Nutrition Cluster Partners call for all involved…
New Guidance to protect Infant health in Emergencies.
See statement on the Joint Statement on the care of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and the appeal to the Mexican Health Minister The new, updated Operational Guidance for Emergency Relief Staff and Programme Managers , developed by the IFE Core Group…
Key Actions You Can Take Today To Support The #BindingTreaty to #StopCorporateAbuse
Key Actions You Can Take Today To Support The #BindingTreaty to #StopCorporateAbuse: http://www.treatymovement.com/get-more-involved/ Acciones para Apoyar el #TratadoVinculante contra #AbusosPorEmpresas: http://www.treatymovement.com/unase-al-movimiento/ Actions pour soutenir le #TraitéContraignant contre #ViolationsParEntreprises: http://www.treatymovement.com/pour-se-mobiliser-encore-plus/
IBFAN-ICDC Launches its 11th Global Monitoring Report
IBFAN-ICDC LEGAL UPDATE January – September 2o17 CLICK HERE Topics highlighted in this issue: IBFAN-ICDC Launches its 11th Global Monitoring Report Reviewing a “Pioneer-Law” which predates the Code in Papua New Guinea Code at the ASEAN Forum Code for Thailand: One…
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…
Natural History Museum criticised for hosting promotion of unnecessary follow-on formula in tie-in with Danone (Aptamil) and Time Out London
Baby Milk Action press release 25 July 2017 The Natural History Museum is hosting an event on 25 July 2017 promoting Danone’s Aptamil follow-on formula to parents. The museum is facing criticism for undermining advice from NHS Choices to parents, which…
To be trustworthy Codex standards should be protected from commercial influence
To be trustworthy Codex standards should be protected from commercial influence Click Here for the webcast of ‘NGO’ Panel Wednesday 7-8pm 19th July chaired by the outgoing Codex Chair, Awilo Ochieng Pernet. Panel Members: AOAC International (Erik Konings, Past President)…
Julie Crawford Award 2017: Bernadette Wood
Protecting breastfeeding from commercial in influence BFLG press release 28 June 2017 (National Breastfeeding Celebration Week in England began on 26th June) The Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support for 2017 has been won by Bernadette (Bernie) Wood, a Health…
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…
Poet Hollie McNish is Baby Milk Action’s new Patron
Press release – 28 June 2017 (National Breastfeeding Celebration Week in England began on 26th June) Baby Milk Action is delighted to announce that poet Hollie McNish has agreed to become a patron of the not-for-profit organisation, which campaigns to…
European Food Safety Authority reaffirms the need for strict controls
Latest science further protects infants The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its final guidance on 31st May on the assessment needed for food for babies under the age of 16 weeks. Following a consultation EFSA maintains the requirement for an extended one…
Will SUN push its way into India?
CLICK HERE for India Saga: Civil Society Organizations Raise Concern Over India’s Possibility Of Joining SUN Movement Aarti Dhar 22 May 2017 The Times of India Don’t join SUN, a nutrition drive Its ties with food MNCs create Conflicts of Interest…
Open letter to WHO DG candidates: keep policy and priority setting free of commercial influence
Open letter Response from Dr Sania Nishtar Response from Dr David Nabarro IBFAN has not expressed a preference for any candidate for the post of WHO Director General. However, we have written to all three to ask how they intend to safeguard WHO from…
Intervention by IBFAN-GIFA at Nestle shareholder meeting 2017
Mr. Chief Executive Officer, My name is Camille Selleger and I speak on behalf of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), recognized as an essential partner by WHO, UNICEF and the UN. In this venue, many people already know…
New Nestlé management asked to change direction on baby milk marketing at shareholder meeting 2017
Baby Milk Action press release 6 April 2017 The Nestlé shareholder meeting on 6 April appointed a new board of directors under the Chairmanship of Paul Bulcke, formerly the Chief Executive Officer. Mark Schneider was appointed as new CEO in January 2017.…
Getting messages right – revised DEC appeal
STOP PRESS Manila Bulletin: DOH bans donation of breastmilk substitutes during disasters June 3, 2017, 3:20 PM By Betheena Kae Unite http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/03/doh-bans-donation-of-breastmilk-substitutes-during-disasters/ We contacted the aid agencies and complained to the Disaster’s Emergency Committee (DEC) about its appeal published on…
Baby feeding products marketing Bill to be debated in Parliament as monitoring report shows how companies mislead parents
Press release 24 March 2017 UPDATE: The Bill was not debated due to an over-packed Parliamentary agenda and lack of time. Alison Thewliss MP has instead announced an inquiry into Infant Feeding Services. This has now been suspended until after…
New 84-country IBFAN report launched at World Breastfeeding Conference shows progress in helping mothers to breastfeed
World Fails to Invest in the Youngest to Reap for Development Johannesburg: December 11, 2016. On the occasion of IBFAN’s Second World Breastfeeding Conference Dr. M.J Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Health, Government of the Republic of South Africa, today released…
Global standard-setting committee puts child health before trade
PDF version: ibfan-codex-pr-2016-4 Click here for background documents including official report of the meeting and participants list. Global standard-setting committee puts child health before trade 38th Codex Alimentarius Nutrition Committee, Hamburg, Germany 7th December 2016 Codex Alimentarius, the FAO/WHO body that…
Breastfeeding a matter of human rights, say UN experts, urging action on formula milk
Breastfeeding a matter of human rights, say UN experts, urging action on formula milk GENEVA (22 November 2016) – Breastfeeding is a human rights issue for babies and mothers and should be protected and promoted for the benefit of both,…
FORMULA MARKETING LAW CLEARS FIRST COMMONS HURDLE
Feeding Products for Babies and Children (Advertising and Promotion) Bill http://www.alisonthewliss.scot/feeding-products-for-babies-and-children-advertising-and-promotion-bill/ News Release from Alison Thewliss MP Wednesday 16th November 2016 FORMULA MARKETING LAW CLEARS FIRST COMMONS HURDLE A new law to tighten up advertising of formula milk has…
UK governments can do more to support mothers who want to breastfeed for longer
WBTi report launch, Westminster, 15 November 2015, 19:30 (RSVP to attend the launch) World Breastfeeding Trends initiative report shows how UK governments can help empower mothers to breastfeed for as long as they wish – Report scores countries on action taken…
Daily Mail, Tesco car parking vouchers and the anti-regulation agenda
The media has picked up on a story of a mother who was refused a car parking voucher when she visited a Tesco store because she had bought only infant formula and not a qualifying product. The reporting of it raises much wider issues…
REPORT OF THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD TO THE 2016 UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: NUTRITION – MALNUTRITION
With other members of Civil Society, we met the Special Rapporteur in Rome last week at the Committee on Food Security. She also came to our side meeting on Conflicts of Interest. Here is her promised report on Nutrition. REPORT OF…
Press Release:National WIC Association Statement on Infant Formula Manufacturers
CLICK HERE Press Release: National WIC Association Statement on Infant Formula Manufacturers September 10, 2016 For Immediate Release September 10, 2016 Contact: Hannah Shultz hshultz@nwica.org 319-541-7357 Denver, CO: This morning, National WIC Association (NWA) Board of Directors Chair, Donna Bister,…
Formula promotion in breach of regulations increases in the UK while Trading Standards Institute highlights cuts to consumer protection
Baby Milk Action press release 16 August 2016 Baby Milk Action is receiving many more reports of retailers in the UK promoting infant formula in breach of formula marketing regulations as Nestlé and Danone step up their competition. This comes as a…
England, NI and Wales: Improvement Notices introduced today to enforce EU formula and baby food marketing rules – companies face criminal charges for non compliance
Baby Milk Action press release 20 July 2016 The UK Government and devolved authorities have today introduced Statutory Instruments updating formula and baby food marketing laws in line with new EU regulations. Although the Regulations fall far short of international minimum standards repeatedly…
Brexit and what it means for our work protecting infant and young child health
Click here to download this briefing as a pdf file. The UK has now voted in the referendum on its membership of the European Union (EU). There are pros and cons to any decision and one so momentous for the…
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child calls on UK government to better support breastfeeding and regulate the formula industry
Baby Milk Action press release 10 June 2016 Update 14 July 2016: Recommendations from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights added The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued its concluding observations on the UK…
Breastfeeding welcome everywhere says Irish group – exposing Danone marketing strategy
Breastfeeding Welcome Here BFLGI Press Release – see bottom of page for Baby Milk Action’s comment Breastfeeding welcome here? No thanks! Breastfeeding welcome everywhere Leading health advocate organisation denounces Danone’s attempt to make breastfeeding appear a niche activity. The Baby Feeding Law Group…
Trade vs Health – WHO opens the door to big business while trying to protect babies.
PDF: WHA69 IBFAN PR FINAL.2 CLICK HERE for TV Documentary WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? MIYCN Resolution Guidance on ending the inappropriate marketing of foods for infants and young children WHA 69/7 Add 1 FENSA RESOLUTION PRESS RELEASE Trade…
PRESS RELEASE: US trade lobby ignores global health concerns
Press Release (PDF) PRESS RELEASE: US trade lobby ignores global health concerns 69th World Health Assembly 26th May, 2016 At this year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva – three hot topics are on the agenda: baby foods, WHO’s interactions with Business…
World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable
Press Release World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable Civil Society Statement 60 Geneva, 24 May 2016 –Civil Society Organizations and Social Movements call upon WHO Member States not to compromise the independence, integrity and credibility of the…
Press Release:World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable
FENSA_handout_a Civil Society Statement 64 (PAGE DOWN for the Full list of 66) FENSA Press Release_ASG Press Release World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable Geneva, 24 May 2016 –Civil Society Organizations and Social Movements call upon WHO Member…
Members of Parliament to hear how to protect mothers and babies from aggressive baby milk marketing as UK is assessed as failing to protect their rights
Baby Milk Action presentation in Parliament 17 May 2016 – 9:30 am Update: Click here to watch the presentation. (Follow on Twitter #APPGIFI – tweet you MP to ask if they are attending – MP contact details) Baby Milk Action will present…
Laws to protect breastfeeding inadequate in most countries
CLICK HERE for web stream of the launch event CLICK HERE for press release on WHO website CLICK HERE for the new report Joint news release WHO/UNICEF/IBFAN Laws to protect breastfeeding inadequate in most countries GENEVA/NEW YORK, 9 May 2016 –…
Launch of joint WHO/UNICEF IBFAN monitoring report
Launch of new WHO/UNICEF/IBFAN Report: Breast-milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code Status Report 2016 Followed by showing of Tigers WHO, UNICEF and IBFAN are hosting an evening of discussion on national implementation of the International Code of…
Royal College of Paediatrics to debate baby food funding
STOP PRESS: the motion was passed just now. Congratulations to the RCPCH Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to debate baby food funding Annual General Meeting, 27th April, Liverpool Motion for debate: “In order for RCPCH as a professional body…