European Parliament votes for big reductions in sugar in baby foods and prohibitions on labelling at too early an age. EU Council conclusions on Childhood Overweight and Obesity Update on Sugar in baby foods: JRC report published Public…
Peter Braback on what children say and why firms should stay out of Politics….
“The biggest mistake is to take accusations personally. This was seen in the baby milk case, when the then CEO Arthur Fürer, a man with high values, took the slogan «Nestlé kills babies» personally and filed a lawsuit against the…
Why Multi Stakeholder Partnerships are problematic
Why Multi Stakeholder Partnerships are so problematic The need for sound information on infant and young child feeding is at the heart of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the 20 World Health Assembly Resolutions that have…
Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
Committee on World Food Security The risks of Multi-stakeholderism, Committee on Food Security, Rome The Code and other safeguards threatened by UN Voluntary Guidelines on Food Will the Food Systems Summit protect human rights and breastfeeding – part of…
Family challenge formula milk firm after baby’s illness
By Michele Paduano BBC Midlands health correspondent The parents of a baby who had hospital treatment say he became ill after being fed formula milk from batches which have been recalled by its maker. A doctor told the family the…
IBFAN Codex Press Releases and comments
Codex Press Releases and comments over the years What is Codex and why does IBFAN attend? Codex is a joint United Nations body created in 1963 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the FAO to develop food standards, guidelines…
Digital Marketing is out of control – Brazil calls for a Resolution to protect mothers and babies
Douglas Nascimento Santana, speaking for Brazil, said that they intend to propose a World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution on the digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes. IBFAN PR EB154. Rough Transcript of debate on Maternal Infant and youn Child Nutrition. Recordings…
EU bans misleading and unproven ‘greenwashing’ terms
EU agrees directive banning misleading use of environmental claims on many products Terms such as ‘environmentally friendly’ and ‘biodegradable’ to be banned unless proved by an authority Kevin O’Sullivan Wed Jan 17 2024 – 14:04 https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/2024/01/17/eu-agrees-directive-banning-misleading-use-of-environmental-claims-on-many-products/ An EU directive targeting…
Delay, Delay, Delay – industry interference in Sri Lanka
Delay, Delay, Delay – industry interference in Sri Lanka The baby food industry is believed to be acting true to form in Sri Lanka – and seems to have succeeded in blocking and delaying the implementation of new Labelling and…
Reports of lead and other contaminants in baby foods
More children added to the toll of those impacted by excessive lead in applesauce | Food Safety News https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/02/more-children-added-to-toll-of-those-impacted-by-excessive-lead-in-applesauce/ More than 200 children affected by excessive levels of lead in applesauce Terrifying source of applesauce recall: NJ sends urgent alert…
Nestlé to shut Irish infant formula plant
Irish Times Nestlé to shut Co Limerick infant formula plant Dominic Coyle David Raleigh. Wed Oct 18 2023 The Irish Times reports that Nestle Ireland is to close its factory in County Limerick, because ” demand for infant formula in…
WHO Hosts the first Global Congress on Code implementation
WHO’s first Global Congress on the implementation of the International Code – baby feeding industry not invited. 20-22 June 2023, WHO HQ, Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) hosted the first Global…
Codex: will ‘sustainability’ claims boost trade of harmful products?
“You meet at time of unprecedented challenges. Conflicts and climate change are exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. Most people around the world who have access to food cannot afford healthy dietsThe Codex . Deforestation and habitat loss are increasing the…
Is “small quantity lipid nutrition supplement” (SQ-LNS) a sustainable and pragmatic strategy to prevent malnutrition?
World Nutrition Issue Vol 14 No 1 (2023) Is “small quantity lipid nutrition supplement” (SQ-LNS) a sustainable and pragmatic strategy to prevent malnutrition? PDF of WN article Introduction by Ted Greiner. Arun Gupta, Dr IBFAN Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest -India(NAPi)…
WBC4. IBFAN’s World Breastfeeding Conference in CAIRO
IBFAN’s World Breastfeeding Conference in Cairo organised by IBFAN ARAB WORLD Promo video of the Event WBC4 Call to Action (12) Spanish Portuguese French Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Steve Wearne. Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 2 minute welcome. 7 Minute Codex…
After 10 years of struggle, Codex puts child health before trade at last
CAC letter April 23 IBFAN/ENCA/ILCA team Ellie Mulpeter, Maryse Arendt, Elisabeth Sterken, Patti Rundall, Manuel Abede, Rodrigo Vianna After 10 years of struggle, Codex puts child health before trade at last. PDF of this Press Release FINAL CCNFSDU REPORT. …
The Billionaires that Made our World: Gates
The Billionaires that made our world: Gates Feb 15, 2023 This must-see C4 Dispatches Investigation doesn’t address nutrition issues and the Multi-stakeholder entities such as SUN and GAIN that he has funded, but it does allow some great comments from…
UK Parliament debate on Lancet Breastfeeding series
April 2023 Thanks to Barbara Crowther for telling us that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a case of Kendamil marketing which breached the code and conflated infant formula and follow on milks, as well as making inappropriate health…
Turkish/Syrian Earthquake: Mother keeps baby alive for 55 hours with breastfeeding
STOP PRESS: Thanks to Barbara Crowther of Sustain, who tells us that the mother was rescued too and both of them reunited with the father and their 3 year old who had both been rescued before them. It is the…
Lancet Breastfeeding Series: ‘Underhand’ formula milk ads stop millions from breastfeeding, experts say
LANCET BREASTFEEDING SERIES 2023 Global launch event: The Series will be launched at a hybrid event in London at 12:30-14:00 UK time on Wednesday 8th February, co-hosted by The Lancet, WHO and Children in All Policies. More information is available here and it will also…
“Big win over Nestle! Over 17 years of fighting!
Big win over Nestlé – Over 17 years of fighting – A fight for health food security, human rights, justice and truth Whistleblowing, Safety and Fraud Facebook Statement from Yasmine Motarjemi: I just learned that Nestlé is waiving the federal appeal…
“Improper political interference” in US baby foods puts health and scientific integrity at stake .
US Oversight Subcommittee Staff Report Reveals Top Baby Foods Contain Dangerous Levels of Toxic Heavy Metals (Feb 4th 2021) FDA responds to questions about report on lead, other toxins in baby food. (17th February) EPA Takes Action to Protect Scientfic…
New online safeguarding laws in Ireland to cover baby formulas and foods.
FANTASTIC NEWS: “…Provision made for the purpose referred to in subsection (2)(d)(ii) may prohibit or restrict, in accordance with law, the inclusion in programmes of commercial communications relating to foods or beverages considered by the Commission to be the subject…
Should animals be pumped with growth drugs to increase growth and global trade?
Should animals be pumped with growth drugs – just to increase global trade? Codex Alimentarius Commission 21-25 November 2022 Rome, Italy Web streaming link:HERE IBFAN Zilpaterol statement PDF While the rest of the world is, at last, waking up to…
Digital Marketing undermines breastfeeding in Mexico
Following on from WHO’s recent report on the impact of Digital marketing, a new study from mexico provides some new evidence Digital marketing of formula and baby food negatively influences breast feeding and complementary feeding: a cross-sectional study and video…
IBFAN Q&A on the Abbott Powdered Milk Formula Scandal
IBFAN Q&A on the ABBOTT scandal Meanwhile, ISDI (the body that represents national and international associations active in this food sector from more than 20 countries on over 6 continents) boasts about the safety of the products of its many…
COP27 – Can lessons be learned and the UPF trade controlled?
COP27 – Can lessons be learned and the UPF trade controlled? Extinction Rebellion mass ‘nurse-in’ . Westminster, London October 2019 Photo: Helena Smith IBFAN Cop 27 ENG IBFAN COP27 ES COP27 – IBFAN FR As world leaders meet in Sharm El-Sheikh,…
Pakistan Floods: IBFAN supports Ministry of Health’s call to protect breastfeeding
Breastfeeding International Emergency Response with IBFAN Pakistan Report IBFAN PAKISTAN – PRESS RELEASE June 2022, The worst .floods in Pakistan‘s history put a third of the country under water and killed 1,717 people. The monsoon rains, melting glaciers and severe heat wave…
WHO on World Breastfeeding Week: Foods for infants and young children: a matter of concern?
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/03-08-2022-foods-for-infants-and-young-children–a-matter-of-concern Foods for infants and young children: a matter of concern? 3 August 2022 News release World Breastfeeding Week, held on 1–7 August each year, sparks discussions across the WHO European Region around the growing international concern about infant…
Global trading standards must follow WHO in restricting harmful marketing
Global trading standards must follow WHO in restricting harmful marketing 75th World Health Assembly, Geneva, 22-28th May, 2022 IBFAN, the global network that has helped governments stop harmful marketing of baby feeding products for the last 40 years, attended…
Cross promotion: Idec sues Nestlé, Mead Johnson and Danone for the ‘Game of 7 mistakes’
STOP PRESS: “Press release IDEC wins over Nestlé, 4 July2022 Court orders Nestlé to clearly signal the difference between infant formulas and growing-up milks IDEC filed a lawsuit against the company for cross-promotion that causes confusion for consumers It…
4 new WHO reports expose marketing by the $55 billion formula milk industry
Dr Tedros explains why the predatory marketing baby feeding products can harm children and announces the new WHO reports on predatory marketing. WHO UNICEF multi-country report – How marketing of formula milk influences our decisions on infant feeding WHO report…
NEW: WHO UNICEF IBFAN -National implementation of the Code Status report 2022
Marketing of breastmilk substitutes: national implementation of the international code, status report 2022 WHO UNICEF IBFAN https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/354221 This report provides updated information on the status of implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS) and subsequent relevant…
Update on Nestlé, Ukraine and WHO Foundation
Update on Nestlé, Ukraine and WHO Foundation Full List of Companies That Have Stayed in Russia – And The Ones That Decided to Leave [Updated Weekly] https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/companies-boycotting-russia/ While we watch with horror yet another human catastrophy in Ukraine, we urge…
FDA Warns Consumers about Abbott’s Powdered Infant Formula – shortage in USA
The US Government endorsement of artificial feeding has been and continues to be a huge financial benefit to the US formula industries. The US policy has left citizens without Code regulation, baby friendly support and mandatory maternity leave for decades.…
40K people call for immediate halt to an unethical formula study in Uganda and Guinea-Bissau
. UPDATE ON THIS RESEARCH This study has now been published. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/1/e2023062228/196183/Breastfeeding-and-Once-Daily-Small-Volume-Formula?autologincheck=redirected Rather than take on board the many serious criticisms made regarding the protocol paper, the authors have sadly doubled down, ending the abstract with “more research” is…
Academics express concern over conflicts of interest in South Africa
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…
Undue corporate influence at Codex
Danone and Croplife in evidence at Codex 2021 Concern about unhealthy UN partnerships: Codex is a joint United Nations body created in 1963 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to develop food standards,…
Baby food industry lobbies to weaken Codex standards on sweetness and flavouring
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…
Codex Commission (CAC44) meeting unable to reach Consensus on growth hormone
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
WATCH the 40th Anniversary Code and Global Breastfeeding Protection Day
40th Anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and launch of World Breastfeeding Protection Day. 21 May 2021 WATCH THE EVENT HERE IBFAN films created by IBFAN Mexico and Brazil IBFAN film 7 minutes IBFAN Chronology:…
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…
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. …