Whatever happened to the word ‘independent’? Click here for a response from WHO PDF ‘Philip Morris pledges $1bn to stub out tobacco smoking’, Financial Times, Sept 13, 2017. Andrew Jack https://www.ft.com/content/d9acceae-97d5-11e7-a652-cde3f882dd7b Derek Yach – ex WHO, ex Senior Vice…
Global Monitoring Reports
Global monitoring Reports on baby food marketing
Some useful new articles about how business works
How Big Business Got Brazil Hooked on Junk Food As growth slows in wealthy countries, Western food companies are aggressively expanding in developing nations, contributing to obesity and health problems. As growth slows in wealthy countries, Western food companies are aggressively…
Babies and mothers worldwide failed by lack of investment in breastfeeding
CLICK HERE for UNICEF analysis of Press coverage JOINT PRESS RELEASE 1 August 2017 New analysis shows an investment of US$4.70 per newborn could generate US$300 billion in economic gains by 2025 GENEVA/NEW YORK, 1 August 2017 – No country in the…
Bernadette Wood acceptance speech for Julie Crawford Award 2017
The Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support for 2017 has been won by Bernadette (Bernie) Wood, a Health Visitor from Suffolk County Council’s Children’s and Young Peoples Services. She was presented the Award today on behalf of the Baby Feeding…
Human Milk Banks – watch out for commercial exploitation.
The need for safeguards against commercial exploitation of Human Milk collection is explained in This new article by IBFAN’s Central Coordinator for Asia. India is planning a network of human breast-milk banks but first needs to put safeguards in place Breast-milk collected…
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reaffirms the need for strict controls
Latest science further protects infants The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its final guidance on 31st May on the assessment needed for food for babies under the age of 16 weeks. Following a consultation EFSA maintains the requirement for an extended one…
IBFAN tackles corporate influence in global health governance at the 70th World Health Assembly
Web screenings of the proceedings can be viewed on this link CLICK HERE for the statements on the IBFAN GIFA website COMMITTEE B Friday 25th May Afternoon (aprox 3.30) Management, legal and governance matters 23.3 Engagement with non-State actors . International Baby…
World Health Assembly elects Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as new WHO Director-General
POLITICO: In a first, African claims top job at WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wants to expand health coverage and boost credibility. He has to mend fences first. By CARMEN PAUN AND SARAH WHEATON 5/23/17, 9:28 PM CET Updated 5/24/17, 12:55 PM CET GENEVA…
UN/WHO panel in conflict of interest row over glyphosate cancer risk
UN/WHO panel in conflict of interest row over glyphosate cancer risk https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/17/unwho-panel-in-conflict-of-interest-row-over-glyphosates-cancer-risk
Should WHO be accountable to businesses? Responses from DG candidates
Should WHO be accountable to businesses? Responses from two of the Candidates for WHO Director General See the Open letter sent directly to the three candidates published in The Lancet: The election of WHO’s next Director General will take place on Tuesday…
Nestle, Danone, Abbott and Mead Johnson fail to meet RCPCH criteria
On 28th April The Lancet published seven of the many responses to the comment by WHO staff about the new funding policy of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The letters are all worth reading. For example, Declan O Brien says…
Trump & trade; WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? India and Malnutrition
Trump & trade; WHO: in the claws of the lobbyists? India and Malnutrition, Amsterdam tackles Obesity Here are links to media coverage of some important stories: a German/French TV Documentary on WHO: its funding and relation to corporations and philanthropists;…
Could your Health Visitor win the Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support?
Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support 2017 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) by 3rd May 2017…
In praise of conflict. Ted talk by Jonathan Marks
Do watch this great Ted talk outlining when and where conflict is necessary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Ze3NZVtgs
UK and US responses to Fed is Best website
Fed is Best https://fedisbest.org/about/ A new organisation has sprung up called Fed is Best. It is being organised by Dr Christine Del Castillo – Hegyi – a physician based in the USA. Fed is Best seems to be attacking the BFHI 10 Steps…
Feeding babies in neonatal units – how an important campaign nearly got derailed.
Here is a letter from Professor Mary Renfrew of Dundee University that explains what happened when an appeal got thrown open to all and sundry. Dear colleagues You may remember the correspondence a few weeks ago about this Open…
Health professional associations and industry funding
LancetRCPCH Following the very worrying announcement by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) of its decision to accept funding from manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes – a decision that went against the vote by RCPCH members at their…
Open letter regarding the Gates Foundation application for official relations
January 26, 2017 (Geneva): A joint statement (signed by 36 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was issued to members of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board (EB) at its semi-annual meeting this week in Geneva. EB members will decide on Tuesday 31st January whether to…
IBFAN at WHO’s 140th Executive Board meeting
140th WHO Executive Board Meeting 23rd January – 1st February 2017 There has been an IBFAN team in Geneva for the WHO Executive Board Meeting. Two days have been spent in closed meetings for the shortlisting of three candidates for the post…
Global standard-setting committee puts child health before trade
PDF version: ibfan-codex-pr-2016-4 Click here for background documents including official report of the meeting and participants list. Global standard-setting committee puts child health before trade 38th Codex Alimentarius Nutrition Committee, Hamburg, Germany 7th December 2016 Codex Alimentarius, the FAO/WHO body that…
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:…
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,…
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…
It is World Breastfeeding Week – what you can do to promote it and stop formula companies hijacking it
It is World Breastfeeding Week, promoted by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). In the UK, you can sign a Call to Action to change the conversation around breastfeeding on the UNICEF UK website. Also see the joint statement…
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…
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…
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…
Mothers need support not pressure – Baby Milk Action presentation to MPs
Click here to share this information using our new format for social media, smartphones and tablets (also works on computers). Baby Milk Action’s presentation to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Infant Feeding and Inequalities – 17 May 2016…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
The Lancet Breastfeeding Series – holding corporations accountable
In part 1 of this article, I reflected on the new Lancet Breastfeeding Series and other significant developments in January concerning our mission to protect breastfeeding and protect babies fed on formula. My focus was on the paper concerning health benefits…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…