“Mothers are being bombarded by online marketing that makes them doubt their ability to breastfeed. In just one click sound health authority advice is replaced by misleading commercial messages.”
IBFAN Statement at the World Health Assembly May 2025
Media
MISLEADING MARKETING AND OVERPRICED MILK: HOW BABY FORMULA COMPANIES ARE EXPLOITING PARENTS – AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT
A new report by the UK World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative will be launched in Parliament tomorrow, Tuesday 24th June. The report will expose misleading advertising,‘Fake Science’, out of control social media influencers and rampant profiteering that is exacerbating the cost of-living crisis – with parents and health systems picking up the cost..
Leading public health experts will make a CALL TO ACTION to all devolved governments to fully implement the recommendations of the Government’s Competition and Market Authority. These include a ban on follow-up formula advertising and generic labelling. Response by the BFLG. WBTI UK 2024 report The World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) was launched by IBFAN in 2004 and is helping 100 countries assess their policy and programmes on infant and young child feeding. Contact the UK WBTi team for access to the hybrid event. patricia@wise141.co.uk
BBC TV Panorama (28 April) revealed the poor nutritional quality of ‘baby food pouches’. These wasteful, environmentally harmful and deceptively labelled ‘drinkable’ products undermine healthy eating development.
WHO DG Dr Tedros Gabeyesus welcomes the adoption of the Resolution. Landmark Resolutions adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly
Despite a 20% cut in its budget following the USA withdrawal from WHO, Member States made several landmark decisions in the hopes of making the world safer and healthier. Among the highlights were:
the adoption of a strong Resolutionclearly calling for theRegulation of Digital Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (including baby foods and bottles and teats). IBFAN, WHO, UNICEF and Member States have been working on this for over 3 years. The Resolution will help governments allocate specific legal duties to the Social Media platforms responsible for controlling digital material – as they do for tobacco and other forms of exploitation.
The adoption of the world’s first Pandemic Agreement follows three years of intensive negotiation, and builds COVID19 lessons .Boosting global collaboration should help ensure stronger, more equitable response to future pandemics. Article 18.4 has a Conflict of Interest safeguard regarding monetary contributions. See IBFAN’s Pandemic statement
The decision to increase Member States Assessed Contributions* to WHO – with the aim of reaching 50% by 2031 – will help WHO stay true to its constitutional mandate and protect its independence, credibility and trustworthiness. Since the early 1970s, UN agencies have faced budgetary cuts imposed by donors such as the United States and the UK. Today, only 20% of WHO’s budget comes from Member States’ Assessed Contributions. This increases the pressure on WHO to accept corporate funding and risky partnerships, IBFAN’s statement.
A Resolution, proposed by Ethiopia and Ireland, extends the Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition to increase the target for Exclusive Breastfeeding to 60%, increase counselling and reduce young children’s consumption of sugary beverages.
Dr Cathrine Lofthus, Sec. General, Ministry Health, Norway, Ambassador Francisca Méndez, Mexico and Lais Mais with Dr Alexandre Padhila, Minister of Health, Brazil, who finished his presentation saying: “Formula is the first Ultra Processed Food children get in touch with. We are sure we will approve the regulation ensuring the right to breastfeeding..”
IBFAN joined ILCA,COLANSA andIDEC from Brazil and Mexico. The event was supported by GHAI, UNICEF, WHO,ALSANNA, FIOCUZand the World Obesity Federation. Panel discussion moderated by Zoe Faulkner in the last 30 minutes: Mauro Brero, UNICEF, Veronica Kirogo, Ministry of Health of Kenya, Prof Dr.Md. Abu Jafor, Min. of Health Bangladesh, Marisa Macari, GHAI and Patti Rundall. CLICK HERE for the recording.
Speakers and supporters: Left to Right: Constance Ching, Anna Koronkiewicz-Wiórek, Zoe Faulkner, Mauro Brero, Aaron Emmel, Elisa Mondonça, Marisa Macari, Marina Rea, Simon Barquera, Maryse Arendt, Beatriz Champagne, Patti Rundall. Back row: Cristiano Boccolini, Sonia Venancio, Lorenza Longhi and Lais Amaral Mais,
Chemical Residues and pollutionPrenatal and postnatal exposure to toxic chemicals can harm children’s health. While in some highly contaminated areas even breastfeeding may be at risk, in most cases the immune protective factors conferred by breastfeeding will be much more important. Infant feeding products and packaging contain plastics and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. Toxins accumulate in soil and leach into water, causing contamination of our food and water supplies. CLICK HERE IBFAN page on PFAS (Forever Chemicals) andHERE for Health and environmental impacts. IBFAN’s intervention at the WHA78 stressed the need for action and objective and independent information.
Response to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food June 2025: Concentration of corporate power in global food systems and its implications for the realization of the right to food
Codex and TradeIBFAN continues to follow Codex developments. We will submit comments on the USA proposal for a new Codex baby food standard.
IBFAN WHA Statement on Health Emergency Preparedness and Response.
“IBFAN is a founding member of the inter-agency Infant Feeding in Emergencies group, set up to ensure appropriate coordinated emergency responses. Humanitarian aid and food distribution must be safely labelled and not influenced by commercial agendas or exploited to create new markets for risky products. Infant mortality rises when inappropriate donations disrupt breastfeeding – a resilient practice that provides food, care and immune protection in all emergencies, preventing infection and malnutrition in all its forms. The DG said this week that attacks on hospitals and health workers have become the new ‘normal’. IBFAN calls for a resolution in this Assembly demanding immediate action from the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, to stop these attacks in accordance with the UN Charter and condemning the restriction of water, food and medical supplies to inflict collective punishment.”
A quote from the archives:
Unmasking Influence. Dr Chris van Tulleken, Patti Rundall and others working to reduce corporate influence on health policy are interviewed in this new film by the Commercial Determinants Research Group..The film will be screened in London in July 2025.
You can find more on IBFAN’s website our Policy Blog and our Policy Basics. If you found this mailing interesting and useful CLICK HERE to donate to Baby Milk Action. Many thanks to all our Members who help safeguard our independence. We do not accept any funding from corporations. CLICK HEREfor IBFAN’s funding policy.
Chemical Residues and pollutionPrenatal and postnatal exposure to toxic chemicals can harm children’s health. While in some highly contaminated areas even breastfeeding may be at risk, in most cases the immune protective factors conferred by breastfeeding will be much more important. Infant feeding products and packaging contain plastics and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. Toxins accumulate in soil and leach into water, causing contamination of our food and water supplies. 
