Will bogus sustainability claims on processed foods save the planet?

Codex will discuss Sustainability Labelling in Canada this coming week. We know that the corporate-driven food system is wrecking planet, but will  bogus, unmonitored  sustainability claims make things worse or better?  IBFAN is  joining  Brazil and other countries who are opposing the Guidelines, while those who  profit from UPFs will argue against the mandatory warnings, independent monitoring and strong controls that are so urgently needed.  See HERE & HERE

CODEX AT 60 – it is possible to change? 
Steve Wearne, the new UK Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission is so far proving to be a force for good. He sent two useful presentations for the IBFAN’s World Breastfeeding Conference and helped bring about a successful outcome for the Follow-up Formula Standard. He is now asking questions about the future of Codex, such as: “How should the multilateral system for trade and standards respond to the challenge from the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit to “transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food”? and “…is it time we rethink Codex?

The 76th World Health Assembly 21-30th May
Discussions will include Emergencies, NCDs and Nutrition. We will ask Member States to ensure that a proposed Resolution on Fortification and supplements does not go forward unless it calls for legally binding safeguards to prevent Conflicts of Interest and commercial exploitation. See our EB intervention.

See IBFAN’s comment in World Nutrition:  Is “small quantity lipid nutrition supplement” (SQ-LNS) a sustainable and pragmatic strategy to prevent malnutrition?

For the first time, WHO is hosting a Global Congress on Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes  20 – 22 June 2023. This is an important opportunity for governments to move child protection forward. Now that the Follow-on-Milk Standard is settled there should be no obstacle in setting a scope that protects children.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, Catherine Russell,Executive Director of UNICEF and the environmental leader,  Dr Vandana Shiva , all gave a welcome addresses at the WBC4 in Egypt.
In November 22, Dr Tedroscalled for a transformation of Codex and a One Health approach – integrating the health of people, animals and the environment.
This hard to-put-down new book by Dr Chris van Tulleken is a Sunday Timesbest seller. In his engaging and non-judgmental way, Chris shows how we are missing the point by looking only at nutrients and not on processing. He explains how and why UPFs, the silent, unstoppable cash genieerators, have changed our taste palates, displaced real food, damaged our health and the environment. Includes fascinating exposés of Nestlé and the baby food industry, In bookshops, audio and digital format.  Chris’s presentation on UPFs at the WBC4 in March is HERE
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