Below are links to a mixed range of news – starting with this paper that has been in preparation for quite some time.
Interference in public health policy: examples of how the baby food industry uses tobacco industry tactics
Learning from the tobacco experience, this paper assesses whether the baby food industry uses any of the six tobacco industry interference tactics recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and summarizes examples of documented evidence.
Here’s a link to a hard hitting 8-minute YouTube expose from Malaysia about Nestlé’s marketing of sugary drinks like Milo as healthy. Do watch – bit outdated on the baby food marketing but good otherwise and useful to share.
https://www.facebook.com/publichealthmalaysia/videos/2013654288924433/

Health Minister Jeremy Hunt answers a question from Alison Thewliss MP about the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative 6 February 2018
‘Ultra-processed’ products now half of all UK family food purchases
Exclusive: health experts warn increasing popularity of industrially-made food will lead to negative effects such as obesity and poor health
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/08/huge-levels-of-antibiotic-use-in-us-farming-revealed
Concerns raised over weakened regulations on imports in potential post-Brexit trade deals
___________________
Research suggests offspring of highly educated mothers benefit from extended parental leave
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/feb/07/longer-maternity-leave-linked-to-better-exam-results-for-some-children
_____________________
The European Commission says BPA affects hormones but others insist it has been well studied and found to be safe.
https://news.sky.com/story/food-packaging-chemical-bpa-found-in-digestive-system-of-86-of-teenagers-11236098
A potentially hazardous chemical used in certain plastic food packaging has been found in the digestive system of 86% of teenagers who took part in a recent study.
_________________________
Lessons from interactions between public health and the food and drinks industry
Modi Mwatsama is the Director of Policy and Global Health at the UK Health Forum and an Honorary Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Erica Di Ruggiero is Director for the Office of Global Public Health Education & Training, Director of the Collaborative Specialization in Global Health, and Assistant Professor, Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (University of Toronto).
_______________________
For Breastfeeding Moms, A Difficult Choice: Work Or Pump?
Insufficient legal protections and indifferent workplaces have caused many women to fall short of pediatric guidelines.
Concerns raised over weakened regulations on imports in potential post-Brexit trade deals
Research suggests offspring of highly educated mothers benefit from extended parental leave
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/feb/07/longer-maternity-leave-linked-to-better-exam-results-for-some-children
The European Commission says BPA affects hormones but others insist it has been well studied and found to be safe.
https://news.sky.com/story/food-packaging-chemical-bpa-found-in-digestive-system-of-86-of-teenagers-11236098
A potentially hazardous chemical used in certain plastic food packaging has been found in the digestive system of 86% of teenagers who took part in a recent study.