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…
URGENT: EU Parliament to vote on nutrient profiles
URGENT: EU Parliament to vote on nutrient profiles 12th April. Please contact your MEP Nutrient profiles could be very helpful in curbing the huge number of claims authorised for baby foods and products. Thanks to the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)…
Member States to discuss inappropriate promotion of baby foods.
Member States will meet TOMORROW (8th April) to discuss a Draft Resolution and a Revised Guidance on Inappropriate Promotion of baby Food (with call-in capability for those not in Geneva) Please share IBFAN’s suggestions for changes with your government. We think that they will…
Jamie Oliver’s next thing: breastfeeding
After the Sugar Tax success, Jamie Oliver turns his attention to Breastfeeding CLICK HERE for Jamie Oliver’s interview on LBC – taking after the announcement of the SUGAR TAX – about his next focus – Breastfeeding. https://audioboom.com/boos/4314325-jamie-oliver-won-the-sugar-tax-debate-and-has-new-campaign-breastfeeding CLICK HERE for the…
Could your Health Visitor win the 2016 Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support?
Could your Health Visitor win the 2016 Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support? Nominations are now OPEN The Baby Feeding Law Group is seeking nominations for the Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support. Nominations must be sent to Baby Milk Action (BFLG Secretariat)…
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women calls for the protection of breastfeeding.
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women calls for the protection of breastfeeding. 4th March 2016 Baby Milk Action and all IBFAN groups support the IBFAN-GIFA office in its work with the various human rights treaty bodies that meet…
Breastfeeding and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women calls for the protection of breastfeeding. 4th March 2016 Baby Milk Action and all IBFAN groups support the IBFAN-GIFA office in its work with the various human rights treaty bodies that meet regularly…
Link to New EU Delegated Acts
CLICK HERE for a link to the new Delegated Acts in all languages http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2016:025:TOC The EU delegated regulations on Infant Formula, Follow on Formula and Foods for Special Medical Purposes were published on 2.2. 2016 The link above takes you…
Baby food companies use claims to target mothers
Nutrients 2016, 8(3), 137; doi:10.3390/nu8030137 Prevalence of Nutrition and Health-Related Claims on Pre-Packaged Foods: A Five-Country Study in Europe Sophie Hieke 1,* , Nera Kuljanic 1, Igor Pravst 2,3, Krista Miklavec 2, Asha Kaur 4, Kerry A. Brown 5,Bernadette M. Egan 5, Katja Pfeifer 6, Azucena Gracia 7 and Mike Rayner 4 Abstract: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/3/137/ HTML…
SMA brand promotes to half a million ‘We’re mums too’ packs
Thanks to Ethical Sponsorship Ireland for spotting this incredible piece outlining the strategy for getting SMA – owned by Nestlé since December 2012 – back to No 1 spot in the UK. So much more reassuring to think of corporate…
IBFAN Comments on Maternal, infant and young child nutrition
Member States have until the end of February to comment on these proposals Maternal, infant and young child nutrition WHO Secretariat Report, Draft Resolution and Guidance on ending the inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children Document EB138/8 …
The wonderful Lord Avebury dies
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Avebury dies aged 87 CLICK HERE I’ve just heard the sad news that Lord Avebury died today. Among the myriad of other issues he worked on, he was also a tremendous support to us for so…
Nestlé ends contract with IAAF for fear of reputational damage.
Nestlé ends sponsorship contract with IAAF for fear of reputational damage “Today’s news that Nestlé has ended its contract with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Global Kids Athletics scheme a year early for fear of damaging its public image took my breath away. Nestlé’s Public…
Civil Society warns of corporate takeover of the World Health Organisation
Civil Society warns of corporate takeover of the World Health Organisation 26th January 2016 World Health Organisation (WHO), Geneva, CLICK HERE for PDF version: FENSA PR 26.1.16 CLICK Here for the Letter from 57 NGOs FENSAB138_7-en latest draft of FENSA (January…
Civil Society has no confidence in the stalled Framework on Engagement with Non State Actors process
PDF: WHO FENSA CS_4.2.16.57 CLICK HERE for Press Release CLICK HERE for a link to the live and archived webcasts of the Executive Board meetings (available for 90 days). Thanks to Bill Jeffrey for working out that the video-recording on FENSA…
Blog post on a European Commission meeting about ‘Added sugar’
Blog post on a European Commission meeting about and ‘Added sugar’ Annex. European Commission Brussels 18th January 2016 I attended a Commission meeting in Brussels on Monday about added sugars – not a Platform meeting – but a special…
European Parliament votes for big reductions in sugar in baby foods and prohibitions on labelling at too early an age.
CLICK HERE for the new DELEGATED ACTS Click Here for BMJ article. bmj.i553.full PRESS RELEASE European Parliament votes for big reductions in sugar in baby foods and prohibitions on labelling at too early an age. 20th January 2016 European Parliament, Strasbourg …
ACT TODAY TO REDUCE SUGAR IN BABY FOODS
YOU can help protect the health of babies: CLICK HERE for the text of the Objection that will be voted on 20th January. CLICK HERE for WHO commentary on sugar Ask your MEPs to vote TOMORROW to reduce sugar and pesticide levels in…
The problem with the Access to Nutrition Index
2016 Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) launch for Academics and International NGOs. The Wellcome Foundation, London Friday 15th January 2016 I attended the Gates-Wellcome-CIFF-funded ATNI index that was created by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in 2012 and scores major food…
STOP PRESS: MEPs call for sugar levels in baby foods to be reduced.
CLICK HERE for WHO comment on sugar and baby foods CLICK here for Mike Brady’s Blog with extra links. PRESS RELEASE MEPs call for sugar levels in baby foods to be reduced 14th January 2016 The vote in the European…
Opportunity for MEPs to protect child health and prevent obesity
CLICK HERE and HERE for media coverage CLICK HERE for Mike Brady’s Campaign Blog about how you can help stop the misleading adverts and bad marketing CLICK HERE for MEPs on the ENVI Committee. Please ask as many as…
Dietary public health research and the food industry. Towards a consensus?
I attended this conference in Cambridge, on Dietary public health research and the food industry on 11th December organised by the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (AUKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence) Here is an article that followed: Limb_2015_foodLimb_2015_food Meanwhile…
IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE EU LEGISLATION
IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT CHILD HEALTH CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE DEBATE that starts around 1 hour and 53 minutes after the start: On Monday 21st December there was an important debate in the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health…
Background to the EU Legislation on baby foods and formulas
Since 1981 when the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (IC) was adopted at the World Health Assembly, the European Parliament has called for its adoption as an EU Directive. All EU Member States (MS) have endorsed the International…
WHO: Unease over seconded philanthropic foundation staff to top management
Thanks to Third World Network for this report – page down for the secondment table TWN Info on Health and UN Sustainable Development www.twn.my WHO: Unease over seconded philanthropic foundation staff to top management Geneva, 9 December (TWN) – Philanthropic…
A fox building a chicken coop?
A fox building a chicken coop? A fox building a chicken coop? – Policy Forum www.policyforum.net The World Health Organization embarked on a reform process five years ago, that included looking at fundraising from private-sector sources. But serious policy questions…
German TV programme about Nestle
Here a two-part programme about Nestle with english subtitles. Part 1 https://youtu.be/laCv-5jHYK4 Part 2 https://youtu.be/jNuQkygqk-g
Global Coordinating Mechanism blatantly pushes PPPs at WHO
C I’ve been attending the Global Coordinating Mechanism (GCM) on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that has been taking place at WHO HQ in Geneva. Its all been very disturbing especially since this is taking place before WHO’s policy on its engagement with…
IBFAN Codex comments
NEW PAPER ON UNICEF RUTF PROPOSAL RUTF Bullett FINAL IBFAN submissions to the 37th codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany 23-27 November 2015 I will be joining the IBFAN Codex…
Brazilian law is signed at last
3rd November 2015 Very important news from Brazil: After many decades of deliberation and struggle by our IBFAN colleagues in Brazil, a Brazilian law that bans advertising of formulas, pacifiers, bottles and all products that can interfere on breastfeeding – Regulation 11265/2006…
New International Development Mandate for Canada
http://www.can-mnch.ca/minister-mandate-letter/ Minister of International Development and La Francophonie Mandate Letter Today, the Government of Canada outlined the mandate of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie. CAN-MNCH is pleased to see a strong commitment to advancing women and children’s…
IBFAN comment on Ending Childhood Obesity Report
The Deadline for comments on the Draft Final Report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesityis today 13th November 2015. Baby Milk Action and IBFAN have submitted the following comment. BabyBaby Milk ActionIBFAN_ECHO_Nov2015 The Draft Final Report is HERE CLICK…
Green Party opposition to the Delegated Acts
On 16th October the Green Party registered an objection to the three Delegated Acts. Commission Delegated Regulations of 25.9.2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the EP and Council as regards infant formula, follow-on formula, c(2015) 6478, food for special medical…
Childhood Obesity Inquiry highlights baby food industry marketing and sponsorship
Childhood Obesity Inquiry highlights baby food industry marketing and sponsorship for links to Blog with full Transcripts CLICK HERE Parliamentary Select Committee Childhood Obesity Inquiry. House of Commons, 20th October, 2015 The Select Committee inquiry on Childhood…
The Right to Food and Nutrition Watch 2015 – Business of Malnutrition
New publication – the Right to Food and Nutrition Watch 2o15 This includes three articles contributed by IBFAN. The Business of Malnutrition: The perfect public relations cover for big food by Patti Rundall, Policy Director, Baby Milk Action, UK Business of Malnutrition,…
NGOs criticise WHO’s ‘non paper’ on conflicts of interest
NGOs_Chan_67 NGOs criticise WHO’s ‘non paper’ on conflicts of interest 22.10.2015 For the past 4 years and as part of the WHO reform, WHO and its governing bodies are discussing new set of policies, currently called Framework of Engagement With Non…
UK Childhood Obesity Inquiry and baby food marketing
I attended the three sessions of the Parliamentary Select Committee Childhood Obesity Inquiry. Much of the media coverage has focused on whether or not there should be a sugar tax on sweetened drinks and the call by the Chair of the…
WHO ‘non paper’ on Framework of Engagement With Non State Actors (FENSA)
See Press release about the letter from 67 NGOs to WHO and the NonPaper on the implications of the Framework of Engagement With Non State Actors (FENSA) For the past 4 years and as part of the WHO reform, WHO and its governing bodies…
Danone at the Conservative Fringe
There were several relevant Fringe meetings at Party conferences. Private Eye picked up on a complaint I made about the Danone funding of a meeting on Early years at the Conservative Conference: “Danone, the baby food giant which makes Aptamil baby and…
World Obesity Day 11th October
TOMORROW – October 11th – is World Obesity Day see World Obesity for a host of useful statistic See also this article in the Guardian: Global obesity rise puts UN goals on diet-related diseases ‘beyond reach’ Sarah Boseley and Helen Davidson in Darwin Friday 9…
WHO Consultation on Conflicts of Interest
http://www.who.int/nutrition/events/2015_conflictsofinterest_nut_programmes_scopeandpurpose.pdf?ua=1 Technical consultation: addressing and managing conflicts of interest in the planning and delivery of nutrition programmes at country level Date: 8-9 October 2015 Venue: International Labour Organization (ILO) Salle IX (R2-sud), Geneva, Switzerland
Stewart Lee at the Edinburgh Fringe
The Commission’s weak proposals on baby food and formula acts are out
The EU Commission’s proposals for new legislation covering the composition and marketing of baby foods and formulas have been sent to the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) I will post comments and a guide very soon…
Two good films – Landgrabbing and Inequality for all
Two very good films doing the Festival rounds. Landgrabbing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieioj-036hA May 11, 2015 The world’s farmland is at risk. Demand for land has soared as investors look for places to grow food for export, grow crops for biofuels or…
What are the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals?
Sustainable Development goals GOAL 1 END POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE GOAL 2 END HUNGER, ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITYAND IMPROVED NUTRITION, ANDPROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 2.1 by 2030 end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people…
New Guidelines on Infant feeding and the European refugee crisis
A new reply has been posted to Infant feeding and the European refugee crisis in the Infant and young child feeding interventions area. From Marie McGrath on Thursday 1 October at 3:25 PM Dear en-net I am happy to share Interim Operational Considerations for the…
Commission to replace infamous ISDS and reaction from US Chamber of Commerce
Letter from European Commission re TTIP report New ICS to replace ISDS in TTIP Comment from John Hendy QC page down for a reaction from the US Chamber of Commerce Commission to replace infamous ISDS with Investment Court System September…
Scaring mothers away from breastfeeding
Click HERE for Mike Brady’s Campaign Blog for some interesting background to this story including links to Nestlé sponsorship of the Brazilian Pediatric Association. CLICK Here for a story in Update 46 about how Nestlé and other companies target pregnant…
IBFAN speaks on Conflicts of Interest at ISSOP conference
IBFAN speaks on Conflicts of Interest at ISSOP conference CLICK HERE
Has Nestle Gone Too Far?
For comments on this article by Yasmine Motarjemi see her Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/justiceforyasmine/posts/1631441403739872 https://www.facebook.com/justiceforyasmine/posts/1631682727049073 and here – another article. http://setexasrecord.com/stories/510634511-tyler-woman-claims-nestle-waters-fired-her-because-of-pregnancy Has Nestle Gone Too Far? Forbes Business AUG 21, 2015 Clark Wolf , http://www.forbes.com/sites/clarkwolf/2015/08/20/has-nestle-gone-too-far/ Protests against Nestle, the food giant, over…