Codex finally adopts the Follow-on Formula Standard. Can Codex reform to meet today’s challenges? 46th Codex Commission meeting: 27th October -2nd December, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Rome WEB-STREAM Agenda Click Here and Here IBFAN has been attending the…
WHO Guideline on prevention and management of Wasting
WHO Guideline on prevention and management of Wasting and nutritional oedema (acute malnutrition) Information on the GL WHO issues new guideline to tackle acute malnutrition in children under five 20 November 2023 News release Reading time: 2 min (497 words)…
WPHN Congress – call for abstracts deadline 20th November
World Public Health Nutrition Association Congress 10-13 June 2024, University of Westminster, London Questioning the Solutions: has the Decade of Nutrition delivered? https://web-eur.cvent.com/event/6be91456-4a49-4a73-9acc-08ee203a9746/summary The Congress will focus on “Community Conversations” that will encourage local action and involve politicians and other…
Rocketing formula prices: no excuse to resort to commercial schemes.
GOVERNMENT ACTION WARRANTED AFTER WATCHDOG CRITICISES “GREEDFLATION” BY INFANT FORMULA BRANDS Rapid price hikes during the cost of living crisis have bolstered formula company profits despite pressure on families. FSNT+press+release+on+the+CMA+report+-+infant+formula+-+29112023 In response to a new report published by the Competition…
UK Infant feeding Survey Update
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that following an extensive period of development the Infant Feeding Survey 2023 (IFS) for England will begin in mid-October. This will be the first IFS since the survey was last…
Digital Marketing – why a strong Resolution is needed
Digital Marketing – why a strong Resolution is needed to protect mothers and babies WHO 154th Executive Board Meeting, Geneva, 22 January – 27 January 2024. 154th EB members Members of the WHO Executive Board Chair and Officers of the…
WHO Regional Committee for Europe: support breastfeeding in emergencies.
Regional Committee for Europe: Slovenia calls for support and protection for women who want to breastfeed in emergencies. Astana, Kazakhstan, 24–26 October 2023 LIVE BROADCAST. Background information WHO Executive Board Health ministers and high-level delegates from the 53 Member States…
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 Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6–23 months of age
PDF of Guideline WHO link to GUIDELINE WHO Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6–23 months of age. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023 This guideline supersedes the Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding of the Breastfed Child (1)…
Good news: Glyphosate fails to get authorisation
Glyphosate: no qualified majority in Standing Committee, proposal for renewal now to proceed to Appeal Committee Congratulations to HEAL, the Health and Environment Alliance, for organising this campaign Statement 13 October 2023Brussels Today, the European Commission failed to get enough…
Consultation of UK legislation on Disclosure of industry payments to the healthcare sector
UK Open consultation Disclosure of industry payments to the healthcare sector Published 4 September 2023. Deadline for comment 11:59pm on 16 October 2023. The UK Government is seeking views on the possible introduction of new secondary legislation to place a…
Baby Milk Action comments on UK trade strategy.
UK accession to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Inquiry Following the announcement of the UK’s accession on 16 July, the UK International Agreements Committee is reactivating its inquiry into CPTPP and is gathering new evidence, regarding the…
Launch of the WHO Civil Society Commission
Launch of the WHO Civil Society Commission Update, Background, Perspectives… The WHO Civil Society Commission is a new body launched by the Director-General of the World Health Organization in August 2023. The mandate of the Commission is to strengthen dialogue…
IBFAN comments on WHO Consultation on digital marketing
Online public consultation: draft guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes Deadline of submission: 17 September 2023 WHO Guidance on digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes IBFAN response Baby Milk Action Digital 17.9 (the draft guidance…
Farewell to Graham Dukes and remembering Elisabet Helsing
Obituaries for Graham Dukes (2 November 1930 – 13 August 2023) and Elisabet Helsing (1940-2019) IBFANers will be sad to learn of the passing of Graham Dukes, who was married to the Elisabeth Helsing – the ‘mother’ of breastfeeding in…
Summer update – WBW – Global Congress
s World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) – Making a Difference for Working Parents REGISTER HERE for the Global Breastfeeding Coalition Webinar at 2pm Geneva time. The right to maternity protection for mothers who work outside the home is the theme of this…
New SACN guidance
NEW SACN GUIDANCE: Feeding young children aged 1-5 years Following the consultation last summer see FSNT response), the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) published their guidance on Feeding young children aged 1-5 years in July. It complements Feeding in…
EU Baby food laws retained for the UK
NEWS: Retained EU Law (REUL) Act published Thanks to the Baby Feeding law Group for alerting us to this news Following months of deliberation and considerations from the Houses of Lords and Commons respectively, the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform)…
Remembering George Allegiah and his report on the Nestlé Boycott
Francois Perroud defending Nestlé’s free supplies policy. March 1989 BBC report on the re-launch of the Nestlé Boycott – 23rd March 1989 So sad to hear that BBC journalist George Allegiah has died. In 1989 he stayed on…
World Breastfeeding Week – 2023 – Making a difference for Working Parents
The theme of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week (the annual event run by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action that started in 1992) is ‘Making a Difference for Working Parents’ Some of the social media resources and events taking place:…
Join the debate about SQLNS supplements and the prevention of undernutrition
Join the debate about micronutrient supplements and the prevention of undernutrition You are invited to participate in a debate about an article we published in the journal World Nutrition Vol 14 No 1 (2023) https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/issue/view/80 and Issue Vol 14 No 2 (2023). https://worldnutritionjournal.org/index.php/wn/issue/view/81…
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…
WHO’s first Global Congress on the Code
WHO Global Congress on the Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes This Congress was a first for WHO since the Code’s adoption in 1981. For three days, over 400 delegates from 130 countries, worked in Plenary and in…
New essential publications on the health risks of Ultra-Processing
___________________________________________________________ Ultra-Processed Foods marketed for infants and young children in the UK This new report from the deservedly widely trusted charity, First Steps Nutrition Trust (FSNT) follows on from Chris van Tulleken’s book and is yet more essential reading.…
IBFAN at the 76th World Health Assembly
Tuesday 23rd May. The public health NGOs – annoyingly called Non State Actors (NSAs) – who stayed on till 11pm to speak on the Emergency Debate. Standing: Baba Aye. Public Services International, Seated Left Jaume Vidal, HAI, Patti Rundall on…
Will bogus sustainability claims on processed foods save the planet?
Will bogus sustainability claims on processed foods save the planet? GREENWASHING 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…
Consultation on the Australian Manufacturers Agreement
Review of the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formulas: Manufacturers and Importers Agreement (MAIF Agreement) Deadline 12th March 2023. The Australian Government is seeking feedback to inform the Review of the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formulas: Manufacturers and Importers…
IBFAN Codex Press Releases and comments
Press Releases and comments over the years Will Codex finally adopt the Follow-on Formula Standard? Can Codex reform to meet today’s challenges? Letter from the Codex Chair and Vice Chairs about the Codex Strategic Plan for 2026-2031 – asks…
Posters for sharing
IBFAN posters and briefings you can share on Social Media: Breastfeeding and Immunity, the Abbott Contamination Scandal and a poster showing how Medela disguises Conflicts of Interest in Science and charity. IBFAN-Breastfeeding and the Immune-system All 12 immunity posters and…
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)…
IBFAN’s World Breastfeeding Conference in CAIRO
IBFAN’s World Breastfeeding Conference in Cairo organised by IBFAN ARAB WORLD Promo video of the Event CAIRO CALL TO ACTION (ENG) 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. …
Codex decides on ultra-processed baby drinks
After 10 years of struggle, Codex puts child health before trade at last. 6-10th March, 2023, Dusseldorf IBFAN, WHO, UNICEF and partners breathed a sigh of relief today at the Codex Nutrition Committee in Dusseldorf. After 10 years of tortured…
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…
Thailand and Bangladesh urge WHO to take the lead in trade – WHO 152nd Executive Board
Thailand and Bangladesh urge WHO to take the lead in trade – WHO 152nd Executive Board 30th Jan – 7th February 2023, WHO HQ. Geneva “…WHO social capital in action was demonstrated when Thailand legislated the WHO milk Code into…
New IBFAN Briefing: Breastfeeding and the immune system
Breastfeeding and the Immune system IBFAN briefing. January 2023 Whenever someone reports a problem with breastmilk and/or breastfeeding, the question being raised is: are there situations where it is safer to avoid breastfeeding, or shorten its duration, and use formula? In…
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…
Beyond football – Pelé’s humanitarian dimension and support for breastfeeding
As we all mourn the loss of Pelé, regarded by many as the world’s greatest football player ever, CLICK HERE for a piece from Kul Gautam, a former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, explaining…
Why are Conflict of interest safeguards missing from the WHO Zero draft of the WHO Pandemic Treaty?
Deliberations of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Zero draft of the WHO Pandemic Treaty 5-7th December. WHO WEBSITE and WEBCAST IBFAN and public health Civil Society partners and some Member States are worried that the Zero Draft fails to contain adequate…
Codex: RUTF Guidelines adopted but no Zilpaterol conclusion
Top: QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, far left, opens the CAC45. The UK’s Steve Wearne, centre, in the Chair for the first time. Below: Member states watch the screen for the controversial vote on Zilpaterol, the drug used to promote…
Codex principle on Science
There was discussion on this document which is STILL in draft and not agreed. The issue of Consensus is a thorny issue for Codex. https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/procedural-manual/sections/appendix/appendix1/en/ Statements of Principle Concerning the Role of Science in the Codex Decision-Making Process and the…
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 defends Mexico’s warning label against food industry attacks
IBFAN defends Mexico’s warning label against food industry attacks IBFAN to Supreme Court Mexico SPANISH IBFAN to Mexican Supreme Court ENGLISH Subject: Review of the appeal of unconstitutionality 358/2022 The ultra-processed products and sugary drinks industry is seeking, through injunctions,…