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
Will SUN push its way into India?
CLICK HERE for India Saga: Civil Society Organizations Raise Concern Over India’s Possibility Of Joining SUN Movement Aarti Dhar 22 May 2017 The Times of India Don’t join SUN, a nutrition drive Its ties with food MNCs create Conflicts of Interest…
Protecting breastfeeding in Emergencies
CLICK HERE for background documents CLICK HERE for live webcasts IBFAN Intervention on the debate on Emergencies at the 70th World Health Assembly, Palais des Nations, Geneva 22nd May 2017 Protecting breastfeeding in Emergencies and the Business of Malnutrition Agenda Item…
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…
Open letter to WHO DG candidates: keep policy and priority setting free of commercial influence
Open letter Response from Dr Sania Nishtar Response from Dr David Nabarro IBFAN has not expressed a preference for any candidate for the post of WHO Director General. However, we have written to all three to ask how they intend to safeguard WHO from…
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;…
Codex follow-on formula standard
Consultation on the Codex revision of the Follow-up Formula Standard. Deadline 7th April. IBFAN’s submission on scope and labelling relating to the revision of the Follow-up Formulas Standard is HERE IACFO’s submission on scope and labelling relating to the revision of the Follow-up Formulas Standard…
Codex consultation on follow-up formulas and milks for young children
See consultation page for IBFAN and IACFO submissions on scope and labelling relating to the revision of the Follow-up Formulas Standard. Codex Member Sates are strongly urged to support the inclusion of the WHO Guidance in standards covering these products. (Please note that…
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
Getting messages right – revised DEC appeal
STOP PRESS Manila Bulletin: DOH bans donation of breastmilk substitutes during disasters June 3, 2017, 3:20 PM By Betheena Kae Unite http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/03/doh-bans-donation-of-breastmilk-substitutes-during-disasters/ We contacted the aid agencies and complained to the Disaster’s Emergency Committee (DEC) about its appeal published on…
Bits and bobs
Why Nestle is one of the most hated companies in the world MAY 19TH, 2017 MIHAI ANDREI ZME Science newsletter Child labor, unethical promotion, manipulating uneducated mothers, pollution, price fixing and mislabeling – those are not words you want to see…
Update on Sugar in baby foods: JRC report published
Update October 2018 DG Research (JRC) has published its report: Feeding infants and young children. An analysis of national food-based dietary guidelines and specific products available in the EU market; EUR 29395 EN; Luxembourg Publications Office of the European Union,…
Ensuring correct messaging about breastfeeding in emergencies.
An example of messaging that can undermine breastfeeding and feed commonly held misconceptions. We are pleased that DEC has agreed to ensure that future appeals following our complaint about this full page appeal in the Guardian today. Disasters Emergency Appeal…
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…
Why breastfeeding support must be included in UN appeal for South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria
Why breastfeeding support must be included in UN appeal for South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria A UN appeal to help people in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria is attracting media attention, but some reports are conveying unhelpful messages about breastfeeding.…
Romania: EU legislation and the protection of child health
STOP PRESS: Case Studies on inequalities in the EU and Romania IBFAN UK EU Chronology Romania: EU legislation and the protection of child health Considerations that Member States can take into account in their nutrition and health planning. …
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…
Alison Thewliss’s Bill seeks to crack down on formula promotion
21st February 2017 Here is the LINK to Alison Thewliss’ Bill that has just been posted on the Parliament website http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/feedingproductsforbabiesandchildrenadvertisingandpromotion.html On Alison’s website here is a great summary of what the new proposed Agency plans to do and the results of the consultation.…
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…
Protected: Santa – you’re fired!
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Health campaigner: Andrew Herxheimer (1925-2016)
Andrew Herxheimer, born 4 November 1925 in Berlin, died 21 February 2016 at the age of 90 in London. Another sad loss that I should have posted before is Andrew Herxheimer, one of our advisors, who sadly died in February. Andrew…
Halfdan Mahler: father of the International Code dies.
We are very sad to hear that Halfdan Mahler WHO’s Director General when the International Code was adopted has died on 14th December. What an amazing contribution this man made to children’s health and survival. Here is a link…
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…
Breastfeeding a matter of human rights, say UN experts, urging action on formula milk
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.…
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:…
Free wills month and Baby Milk Action
There is a campaign in October encouraging people to make or update their will. Various solicitors have joined with leading charities to encourage people to think of leaving a legacy. Baby Milk Action can receive legacies, but we cannot participate in…
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…
England, NI and Wales: Improvement Notices introduced today to enforce EU formula and baby food marketing rules – companies face criminal charges for non compliance
Baby Milk Action press release 20 July 2016 The UK Government and devolved authorities have today introduced Statutory Instruments updating formula and baby food marketing laws in line with new EU regulations. Although the Regulations fall far short of international minimum standards repeatedly…
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…