WHO hosted the first Global Congress on the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. 20-22 June 2023, WHO HQ, Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) hosted the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
IBFAN Q&A on the Abbott Powdered Milk Formula Scandal
IBFAN Q&A on the ABBOTT scandal Meanwhile, ISDI (the body that represents national and international associations active in this food sector from more than 20 countries on over 6 continents) boasts about the safety of the products of its many…
WHO on World Breastfeeding Week: Foods for infants and young children: a matter of concern?
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/03-08-2022-foods-for-infants-and-young-children–a-matter-of-concern Foods for infants and young children: a matter of concern? 3 August 2022 News release World Breastfeeding Week, held on 1–7 August each year, sparks discussions across the WHO European Region around the growing international concern about infant…
Global trading standards must follow WHO in restricting harmful marketing
Global trading standards must follow WHO in restricting harmful marketing 75th World Health Assembly, Geneva, 22-28th May, 2022 IBFAN, the global network that has helped governments stop harmful marketing of baby feeding products for the last 40 years, attended…
World Food Safety Day – who should be held accountable for the 9 US baby deaths?
World Food Safety Day: who should be held accountable for the 9 US baby deaths? IBFAN Statement 7th June 2022 Above: The baby formula shortage is prompting calls to increase support for breastfeeding, NPR May 30, 2022. “Parents…
IBFAN at the 75th World Health Assembly 22-28th May 2022
Some interesting articles published around this time which might explain the struggle we had getting Codex on the Agenda Global trading standards must follow WHO in restricting harmful marketing Industry Lobbying on WHO Overshadowing Public Health Policy, Researchers Suggest Corporate…
Governments must control their unethical corporations
Governments should control their unethical corporations In June 1992, following the adoption of the first EU Directive on marketing of breastmilk substitutes (infant formula and follow-up formula) in the internal market, the EU adopted an Export Directive (requiring labels in…
NEW: WHO UNICEF IBFAN -National implementation of the Code Status report 2022
Marketing of breastmilk substitutes: national implementation of the international code, status report 2022 WHO UNICEF IBFAN https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/354221 This report provides updated information on the status of implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS) and subsequent relevant…
NEW Joint Statement on Ukraine crisis – protecting mothers and children
Link to Baby Milk Action Blog. Infant feeding in emergencies – links to blogs IYCF_Joint-Statement-V2-06052022-EN IYCE Hub for more information Joint Statement Protecting Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in the Ukraine Conflict and Refugee Crisis Version 2: May 2022…
NEW WHO report on the scope and impact of digital marketing for the promotion of breast-milk substitutes
NEW WHO report on the scope and impact of digital marketing for the promotion of breast-milk substitutes click here for the report Following on from the 8-country report (Marketing the $55 billion formula milk industry – How marketing influences our decisions…
Update on Nestlé, Ukraine and WHO Foundation
Update on Nestlé, Ukraine and WHO Foundation Full List of Companies That Have Stayed in Russia – And The Ones That Decided to Leave [Updated Weekly] https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/companies-boycotting-russia/ While we watch with horror yet another human catastrophy in Ukraine, we urge…
WHO Model law for the European Region
ENDING INAPPROPRIATE MARKETING OF BREAST-MILK SUBSTITUTES AND FOODS FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN PDF The WHO European Region: protecting the most vulnerable Coinciding with the launch of the new WHO–UNICEF global report: “How marketing of formula milk influences our decisions…
FDA Warns Consumers about Abbott’s Powdered Infant Formula – shortage in USA
The US Government endorsement of artificial feeding has been and continues to be a huge financial benefit to the US formula industries. The US policy has left citizens without Code regulation, baby friendly support and mandatory maternity leave for decades.…
IBFAN warns about corporate influence at WHO Executive Board Meeting
IBFAN statements for the WHO Executive Board Meetings – 24-29th January 2022 See earlier Policy Blog for the Background to the EB Discussion. All the presentations from IBFAN, Civil Society, Member States and WHO can be seen on the WEBCAST…
Protected: Agenda Item 17 Maternal Infant and Young Child Health.
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Baby Food marketing on WHO’s agenda – will the Civil Society voice be stifled?
Baby food marketing on WHO’s agenda – will the Civil Society voice be stifled? WEBCAST of the EB IBFAN STATEMENTS Members of the EB The 150th session of WHO’s Executive Board (EB) 24-29th January. For the first time…
Farewell to Peter Greaves – a remarkable and much valued friend – and now Gerson da Cunha
Gerson da Cunha A few weeks after Peter died – on 7th January – we got the news that one of Peter’s friends, Gerson da Cunha had died. Gerson was an Indian/Goan high level communicator, who worked for UNICEF…
Undue corporate influence at Codex
Danone and Croplife in evidence at Codex 2021 Concern about unhealthy UN partnerships: Codex is a joint United Nations body created in 1963 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to develop food standards,…
Codex Commission (CAC44) meeting unable to reach Consensus on growth hormone
CODEX COMMISSION (CAC 44) November and December 2021 Interventions made by IBFAN and ENCA: Agenda Item 8 – (Matters arising from FAO and WHO) Thanks WHO for its work on COVID and breastfeeding and its celebration of the 40th Anniversary of…
IBFAN concerns about vulnerable groups and food safety
IBFAN to Dr. Branca Final 27.10.21 Agenda Item 8.3 Codex Alimentarius Commission November 2021 IBFAN Food Safety Statement 2020 Dr Francesco Branca Director Nutrition and Food Safety World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20 1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland 27th September 2021…
Join the civil society opposition the UN Food Systems Summit
Hundreds of grassroots organizations to oppose the UN Food Systems Summit Civil society and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations launch a global counter-mobilization against the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit from 25 to 28 July 2021 in Rome and online. Rome, Italy. 19…
Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 92
Ask your MP to support the Code and Resolutions in full FIND YOUR MP EDM (Early Day Motion) 92: tabled on 24 May 2021 Thanks to long time Code supporter Alison Thewliss SNP for sponsoring this Early Day Motion following…
WATCH the 40th Anniversary Code and Global Breastfeeding Protection Day
40th Anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and launch of World Breastfeeding Protection Day. 21 May 2021 WATCH THE EVENT HERE IBFAN films created by IBFAN Mexico and Brazil IBFAN film 7 minutes IBFAN Chronology:…
Why the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Initiative is a threat to child health.
Powerpoint presentations: N4G GBC (2) Multistakeholder power Why the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) global pledging initiative is a threat to child health – how industry infiltrates the baby food policy space. “At a time when poverty rates, economic disparity,…
Bill Gates – vaccines, Lab-Grown Breast Milk and other things
The People v. Bill Gates Linsey McGoey https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2021/may/the-people-v.-bill-gates LRB blog, London Review of Books, 4 May 2021 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/podcasts/the-daily/coroanvirus-vaccine-bill-gates-covax.html?showTranscript=1 Can Bill Gates Vaccinate the World NYT Podcast http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.m875 Toll-free link: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.m875?ijkey=GJx0GA7Fxjp2kE8&keytype=ref Scientists Want to Ditch Formula for Lab-Grown Breast Milk Formula…
Alarm over WHO Foundation ‘Thank you’ to Nestle
All those who know and worry about Nestlé’s appalling record on baby foods, water and ultra-processed products were appalled to see a Tweet from the newly formed WHO Foundation, thanking Nestlé for a donation. Please ask WHO Director General Dr…
CFS47 Statements made by Member States, the UN and others
Some notable Excerpts from Statements made on February 10th 2021 WHO (and UNICEF) In the context of the negotiation we have expressed the concern that, in the spirit of compromise the text of the Voluntary Guidelines does not fully reflect…
EU-led Draft Resolution on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies
IBFAN Proposed amendments EU-led Draft Resolution on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies 74th session of the WHA, May 2021 IBFAN is grateful to the EU for giving Civil Society organisations the opportunity to contribute to draft Resolutions.…
The Code and other safeguards threatened by UN Voluntary Guidelines on Food
The Code and other safeguards threatened by corporate friendly Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition. The Plenary session of the UN Committee on Word Food Security (CFS47) ended on the 11th February, after several weeks of intense negotiations over…
WHO moves almost enough on the sun-setting of the Code – 10,000 support IBFAN’s call
Click Here for all IBFAN statements WHO moves ‘almost far enough‘ on sun-setting of the Code – 10,000 support IBFAN’s call 148th WHO Executive Board Meeting (EB148) (18 – 26th January 2021) In November we wrote about the proposals to…
IBFAN statements for EB149
IBFAN statements at EB148 Unfortunately – none of our statements were read – partly because of technical issues – partly because the Chair decided not to allow any NSA statements on that issue. All three statements will remain on the …
LLLi petition gains over 22,000 endorsers for IBFAN’s statements
Latest news on sun setting see Policy Blog We thank LLLi for this petition and the 22,000 endorsers for IBFAN’s statements on the Sunsetting of reporting on the Code and our Counter Call on the BMS Call to Action. We…
News Update: Vaccines and breastfeeding
New WHO Guidance: Interim recommendations for use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, under Emergency Use Listing and a direct quote. SAGE Recommendations:https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-vaccines-SAGE_recommendation-BNT162b2-2021.1 “Lactating women Breastfeeding offers substantial health benefits to lactating women and their breastfed children. Vaccine efficacy is expected…
WHO Update: Sun-setting decision will lead to more misleading marketing and greater risks to health.
See previous post. IBFAN statement WHA73 delivered 10.11.20 Sun-setting decision will lead to more misleading marketing and greater risks to health. A Decision on Maternal, infant and young child nutrition to end WHO’s obligation to report biennially to the World Health Assembly (WHA)…
No ‘sunsetting of the Code ’ please! Babies need vigilence us to be needed
IBFAN statement WHA73 delivered 10.11.20 No ‘sunsetting of the Code please’ – babies need us to be vigilant Resumed online 73rd World Health Assembly 9-14th November 2020 WHA 73 website LIVE WEBCAST Participants list A new draft Decision…
LLL and FIAN International, join IBFAN’s Counter Call
Support for IBFAN’s Statement re WHO/UNICEF “Call to Action” 26 October 20 Categories: News From LLLI, Uncategorized La Leche League International (LLLI), as an international breastfeeding support organization, has a responsibility to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding by upholding the…
Former UNICEF Deputy Exec. Directors join IBFAN’s Counter Call
Kul Gautum, former deputy executive director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations LINK Dear Charlotte, It has come to my attention and that of many UNICEF retirees, that in June 2020, UNICEF and WHO along with several…
The baby brands turning Indonesian Instagram into free formula ads
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism The baby brands turning Indonesian Instagram into free formula ads Published July 30 2020 By Rosa Furneaux Multinational baby formula companies, such as Nestlé and Danone, are using social media to market to consumers…
WHO UNICEF: World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message
World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message Joint message: UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 31 July 2020 Statement The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”. In line with…
WHO Executive Board Meeting: Biennial Reporting on the International Code under threat
WHO Executive Board Meeting, 3 February 2020 – 8 February 2020, WHO Headquarters, Geneva Event website WEBCAST HERE SEE Press release HERE IBFAN made interventions on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nurition (Agenda Item 18 see Friday pm webcast…
IBFAN calls for reconsideration of harmful decision on baby food marketing
URGENT ACTION Needed IBFAN Statement en Declaración IBFAN AMS sp LLLi Petition endorsed by over 6,700 A Decision ‘noted’ at the 73rd World Health Assembly to end reporting on the International Code to the World Health Assembly after…
IBFAN highlights risks of WHO’s Governance reforms at the Executive Board meeting
145th WHO Executive Board. 29-30th May 2019 The 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva has now ended CLICK here for IBFAN’s statements. We are also tracking WHO’s transformation processes and governance reforms – and will deliver the statement below today…
IBFAN at WHO’s Executive Board: tackling commercialisation of health care systems
Good article in Health Policy Watch 24th January – 1st February I’ve been at the WHO Executive Board meeting since 24th January – joining IBFAN GIFA colleagues Alessia Bigi and Fedora Bernard and partner…
Conflicts of Interest concerns about three members of WHO’s new High-level Commission on NCDs
In response to the call for comments on WHO’s proposals for an Independent Global High-level Commission on NCDs I sent the comments below, outlining our serious concerns about the appropriateness of three of the proposed Commissioners, who will have an ‘advisory’ role: Arnaud…
Gates Foundation and clarification on IBFAN funding policy
Below are some media and research articles about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) along with a Clarification of IBFAN’s funding policy. Don’t reduce the global poor to potential consumers By treating health care as a commodity, Gates…