Breastfeeding a matter of human rights, say UN experts, urging action on formula milk GENEVA (22 November 2016) – Breastfeeding is a human rights issue for babies and mothers and should be protected and promoted for the benefit of both,…
Castro’s speech at the 50th WHA, May 1998
The following is the full text of the speech delivered by Cuban President Fidel Castro at the Palace of Nations in Geneva on the occasion of the presentation to him of the Health for All Medal by the World Health…
FORMULA MARKETING LAW CLEARS FIRST COMMONS HURDLE
Feeding Products for Babies and Children (Advertising and Promotion) Bill http://www.alisonthewliss.scot/feeding-products-for-babies-and-children-advertising-and-promotion-bill/ News Release from Alison Thewliss MP Wednesday 16th November 2016 FORMULA MARKETING LAW CLEARS FIRST COMMONS HURDLE A new law to tighten up advertising of formula milk has…
Law to improve baby milk safety and information passes first hurdle in Parliament – proposed by Alison Thewliss MP
Alison Thewliss SNP MP for Glasgow Central made a great speech in the House of Commons today (16 November 2016) calling for stricter regulations to control the marketing of formulas for babies. This was the first reading of her proposed bill.…
Daily Mail, Tesco car parking vouchers and the anti-regulation agenda
The media has picked up on a story of a mother who was refused a car parking voucher when she visited a Tesco store because she had bought only infant formula and not a qualifying product. The reporting of it raises much wider issues…
Speak Out Against False Formula Advertising: An Open Letter to the FDA
THE BLOG Speak Out Against False Formula Advertising: An Open Letter to the FDA 10/28/2016 01:17 pm ET | Updated 16 hours ago Jennifer Grayson Journalist and author of Unlatched: The Evolution of Breastfeeding and the Making of a Controversy (HarperCollins) The Food and…
Baby Milk Action response to RCPCH relationship with formula milk companies.
Click Here for the background papers on the website of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The news that the postal vote approved RCPCH acceptance of formula sponsorship is really disappointing, especially since the College is a much valued…
REPORT OF THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD TO THE 2016 UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: NUTRITION – MALNUTRITION
With other members of Civil Society, we met the Special Rapporteur in Rome last week at the Committee on Food Security. She also came to our side meeting on Conflicts of Interest. Here is her promised report on Nutrition. REPORT OF…
Conflicts of Interest in Food security and Nutrition Policies: Which way forward for the CFS?
Thursday 20 of October 2016 18.00-19.30 Iraq Room I attended the Committee on Food Security this week in Rome. CLICK HERE for photos of our side meeting attended by 200 people. Conflicts of Interest in Food security and Nutrition Policies:…
BBC News report on the Yemen – no understanding of breastfeeding
CLICK HERE for BBC report CLICK HERE http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/yemen-breastfeeding-challenge-2014622122259886759.html27 I watched the report on BBC 1 News on Tuesday 20th September – it will be repeated at the weekend). The report highlighted the terrible situation in the Yemen due to the …
Press Release:National WIC Association Statement on Infant Formula Manufacturers
CLICK HERE Press Release: National WIC Association Statement on Infant Formula Manufacturers September 10, 2016 For Immediate Release September 10, 2016 Contact: Hannah Shultz hshultz@nwica.org 319-541-7357 Denver, CO: This morning, National WIC Association (NWA) Board of Directors Chair, Donna Bister,…
Justin Trudeau Shares Photo Of Sophie And Hadrien For World Breastfeeding Week
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/07/justin-trudeau-spohie-breastfeeding-week_n_11377548.html Justin Trudeau Shares Photo Of Sophie And Hadrien For World Breastfeeding Week The Huffington Post Canada | By Angelyn Francis http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/07/justin-trudeau-spohie-breastfeeding-week_n_11377548.html Posted: 08/07/2016 5:07 pm EDT The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the photo shared by the prime minister’s Twitter…
Paediatricians criticise college survey on links with formula milk firms
PDF: bmj.i4555.full Paediatricians criticise college survey on links with formula milk firms BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4555 (Published 17 August 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4555 Paediatricians campaigning for their royal college to sever its links with infant formula milk…
Paediatricians criticise college survey on links with formula milk firms
See our presentation on this topic. British Medical Journal: Paediatricians criticise college survey on links with formula milk firms BMJ 2016; 354 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4555 (Published 17 August 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4555 Paediatricians campaigning for their royal college to…
Some evidence on the impact of marketing on infant feeding decisions
Some evidence on the impact of marketing on infant feeding decisions None of this is in any particular order yet – sorry A rapid evidence assessment Does marketing of commercially available complementary foods affect infant and young child feeding? Commissioned by the World…
Urgent need to prevent inequalities being exploited
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) at the House of Commons on 5th July, chaired by Alison Thewliss MP, featured Sally Etheridge’s moving and informative presentation about inequalities, food banks and breastfeeding. With corporations keen present themselves as agents for good, there…
Brexit – some personal thoughts
Baby Milk Action has decided not to publish a position on Brexit, but here’s a short summary of my personal view. With just one day to go before the vote tomorrow, its shocking that most of the debate has revolved around…
Protecting the right to Education against commercialisation
“The Special Rapporteur looks with concern at the rapid increase in the number of private education providers and the resulting commercialization of education, and examines the negative effects of this on the norms and principles underlying the legal framework of…
Jo Cox – what she meant to us
We are all devastated by the awful news of the murder of Jo Cox MP (nee Leadbeater) on Thursday, 16th June. Baby Milk Action has a lot to thank her for. Obituaries: Click here Click Here Jo was political advisor to Glenys Kinnock when…
22nd June Conflicts of Interest in Global Nutrition Research
22nd June Evidence Live Conference Centre for Evidence Based Medicine/BMJ/University of Oxford. I will be joining Prof Talukder for a session on Conflicts of Interest in Global Nutrition Research -still some tickets left for this conference 22-24th June
Health claims on foods for Infants and Young Children
Stop Press Following the meeting in June the Commission has started a consultation with Member States (MS) asking several key question (see DH BULLETIN – Follow-up questions to the Commission Working Group on hea… about their views on whether claims…
Resolution (WHA 69.9) tackling inappropriate marketing adopted
28th May 2016: Straight after the adoption of the Resolution WHA 69.9 Guidance on ending the inappropriate marketing of foods for infants and young children WHA 69/7 Add 1 Also adopted was the very worrying WHA 69.10 Above from…
Gabrielle Palmer and Martin Wagner speaking in London 14th June
EU parliament slams aid scheme that uses big agribusiness to ‘feed Africa’
STOP PRESS CLICK HERE for yesterday’s vote in the EU Parliament slamming of the New Alliance Aid scheme CLICK HERE for IBFAN’s concerns about the role of business in the Scaling Up Nutrition initiative EU parliament slams aid scheme that uses big agribusiness…
Concerns about the role of businesses in Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN)
STOP PRESS CLICK HERE for yesterday’s vote in the EU Parliament slamming of the New Alliance Aid scheme PDF version: SUN IBFAN June132 2 2 page version prepared in 2014: SUN GAIN 2014 Right to Food and Nutrition Watch – the Business…
Breastfeeding welcome everywhere says Irish group – exposing Danone marketing strategy
Breastfeeding Welcome Here BFLGI Press Release – see bottom of page for Baby Milk Action’s comment Breastfeeding welcome here? No thanks! Breastfeeding welcome everywhere Leading health advocate organisation denounces Danone’s attempt to make breastfeeding appear a niche activity. The Baby Feeding Law Group…
Trade vs Health – WHO opens the door to big business while trying to protect babies.
PDF: WHA69 IBFAN PR FINAL.2 CLICK HERE for TV Documentary WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? MIYCN Resolution Guidance on ending the inappropriate marketing of foods for infants and young children WHA 69/7 Add 1 FENSA RESOLUTION PRESS RELEASE Trade…
IBFAN Statements on Obesity, Emergencies and WHO Governance
IBFAN statements at the 140th WHO Executive Board Meeting (23rd January-1st February 2017) Geneva Two days were spent in closed meetings for the selection of the short-list of three for the post of the new Director General of WHO. CLICK…
PRESS RELEASE: US trade lobby ignores global health concerns
Press Release (PDF) PRESS RELEASE: US trade lobby ignores global health concerns 69th World Health Assembly 26th May, 2016 At this year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva – three hot topics are on the agenda: baby foods, WHO’s interactions with Business…
World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable
Press Release World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable Civil Society Statement 60 Geneva, 24 May 2016 –Civil Society Organizations and Social Movements call upon WHO Member States not to compromise the independence, integrity and credibility of the…
Press Release:World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable
FENSA_handout_a Civil Society Statement 64 (PAGE DOWN for the Full list of 66) FENSA Press Release_ASG Press Release World Health Organization’s independence and integrity are non-negotiable Geneva, 24 May 2016 –Civil Society Organizations and Social Movements call upon WHO Member…
New media om WHA69
Is Jamie Oliver’s food revolution a marketing tool or a public health campaign? Confusion can land revolutionaries in a soup Monday, May 23, 2016 – 15:02 http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/jamie-oliver’s-food-revolution-marketing-tool-or-public-health-campaign-43685
Some useful new publications on FENSA, NCDs and baby foods
IBFAN NCD_GCM_statement WHO Engagement With Outside Actors: Delegates Tight-Lipped, Civil Society Worried 24/05/2016 BY CATHERINE SAEZ, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WATCH Is Jamie Oliver’s food revolution a marketing tool or a public health campaign?http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/jamie-oliver%E2%80%99s-food-revolution-marketing-tool-or-public-health-campaign-43685 Whose health_ article Lhotska Gupta Whose health? The crucial negotiations…
Nestlé Wants to Sell You Both Sugary Snacks and Diabetes Pills
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-05-05/nestl-s-sugar-empire-is-on-a-health-kick Nestlé Wants to Sell You Both Sugary Snacks and Diabetes Pills Take two Butterfingers and call me in the morning. May 5, 2016 Matthew Campbell MattCampbel Corinne Gretler gretlerc Reprints
Open letter on Trade Secrets Protection Directive
Open Letter to Heads of State and Government – Trade Secrets Protection The Trade Secrets Protection Directive Is Still Dangerous For Freedoms and Rights An Open Letter to Heads of State and Government of the European Union Concerns: final…
New IBFAN comments: WHO Guidance on Ending inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and Young Children
New IBFAN comments on Resolution on WHO Guidance on Ending inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and Young Children Following the meeting of Member States on 2nd May, there will be another meeting on 20th May to discuss the Resolution…
EFSA and the revolving door
EFSA and the revolving door. http://corporateeurope.org/efsa/2016/04/telling-mistake April 29th 2016 EFSA A telling mistake Restrictions imposed on new Communications director at the EU Food Safety Authority are absurd and betray original hiring mistake Ms Barbara Gallani, who will become EFSA’s Director…
Laws to protect breastfeeding inadequate in most countries
CLICK HERE for web stream of the launch event CLICK HERE for press release on WHO website CLICK HERE for the new report Joint news release WHO/UNICEF/IBFAN Laws to protect breastfeeding inadequate in most countries GENEVA/NEW YORK, 9 May 2016 –…
EU Parliament votes for Trade Secrets Protection Directive
Some really worrying news: Last month the EU Parliament voted in favour of the Trade Secrets Protection Directive – that harmonises the rules on the protection of trade secrets. If this approved by the EU Council will be binding on all…
Launch of joint WHO/UNICEF IBFAN monitoring report
Launch of new WHO/UNICEF/IBFAN Report: Breast-milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code Status Report 2016 Followed by showing of Tigers WHO, UNICEF and IBFAN are hosting an evening of discussion on national implementation of the International Code of…
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health passes motion to end baby food funding
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health passes motion to end baby food funding Annual General Meeting, 27th April, 2016, Liverpool Motion that was passed: “In order for RCPCH as a professional body to avoid institutional conflicts of interest and…
UK Paediatricians vote to end formula company sponsorship
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health AGM, 27th April, Liverpool STOP PRESS BMJ 19th April 2016 bmj.i2221.full BMJ 29th April 2016 bmj.i2459.29.4.16 Tony Waterson’s Blog CLICK HERE The vote on the following Motion was passed just now. The implications will…
Media coverage and more on WHO’s FENSA
First a very useful paper setting out IBFANs Concerns regarding the proposed Framework of engagement with NSA This was a Discussion paper for the 68th WHA in 2015. IBFAN_2015_05_FENSA_concerns FINAL Media coverage on WHO’s Framework of Engagement with Non State Actors…
Commission Report on Young Child Formula
The Commission has published its long awaited report on Young Child Formula. Despite the fact that Member States wanted action, the Commission proposes no effective action, and leaves these products opento the market Nutraingredients: No new legislation needed on ‘growing…
Nestlé and Hershey escape child labour labelling charge
Two class action lawsuits against companies Nestle and Hershey in the United States were dismissed after a federal court ruled there is no duty to disclose the use of child labour in the cocoa supply chain. The suits were brought by…
Royal College of Paediatrics to debate baby food funding
STOP PRESS: the motion was passed just now. Congratulations to the RCPCH Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to debate baby food funding Annual General Meeting, 27th April, Liverpool Motion for debate: “In order for RCPCH as a professional body…
Save the World Health Organization from the undue influence of corporations and corporate linked entities
Civil Society FENSA Statement April 2016-1 WHO Member States have been negotiating a proposal for a Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (covering WHO’s interactions with NGOs, Businesses Philanthropic Foundations and Academic institutions.) Another open-ended meeting of WHO Member States starts…
Inappropriate marketing of baby foods – new consultation round
Inappropriate marketing of baby foods – new consultation round to start soon Following the last meeting of Member States in early April, we understand that some changes have been made to the Guidance and we hope that our remaining concerns will…
Paediatricians call on royal college to drop financial ties to infant formula firms
TEXT OF THE MOTION TO BE VOTED ON 27th April 2016: “In order for RCPCH as a professional body to avoid institutional conflicts of interest and thus maintain its reputation as an unbiased, independent educator and advocate for child health,…
US criticises government restrictions on civil society
Remarks at the Coordination and Management Meeting of ECOSOC on the adoption of the NGO Committee Report Ambassador Sarah Mendelson, U.S. Representative for Economic and Social Affairs U.S. Mission to the United Nations New York City April 5, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE…