If Maternal Breastfeeding is Not Possible: Exploring Safe and Sustainable Infant Feeding Options in All Contexts Background Infant feeding during emergencies is a critical area of research, particularly given the heightened risks of undernutrition and increased child mortality rates…
Draft Standard for Foods for Older Infants and Young Children
CODEX COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION AND FOODS FOR SPECIAL DIETARY USES (CCNFSDU) Draft Standard for Foods for Older Infants and Young Children Baby Milk Action attends Codex either as IBFAN, ENCA or sometimes as IACFO. Here are the comments that…
UN General Assembly, Political Declaration on NCDs
Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing (HLM4) Following the General Assembly on 9-23 Sept there will be a high level meeting of States…
Adjournment Debate on infant feeding. The House of Commons 1st July 2025
Following the launch of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Report last week, Jess Brown-Fuller, Liberal Democrat MP for Chichester, led an Adjournment Debate on Infant feeding this evening, Tuesday 1 July 2025 in the UK House of Commons this evening.…
News Update: UK and International
Click HERE for 30-seconds on social media “Mothers are being bombarded by online marketing that makes them doubt their ability to breastfeed. In just one click sound health authority advice is replaced by misleading commercial messages.” IBFAN Statement at the…
UK WBTi: MISLEADING MARKETING AND OVERPRICED MILK: HOW BABY FORMULA COMPANIES ARE EXPLOITING PARENTS – AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT
Baby formula marketing ‘risking child health’, say campaigners.Nursing Times, 25 June 2025, by Edd Church Formula milk: Overpriced and misleading products are risking child health, say campaigners British Medical Journal BMJ 2025; 389 :r1333. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r1333 WBTI Policy press release PRESS…
IBFAN appeal to save children from War
IBFAN ON GAZA Urgent Action for Gaza 16th May 2025 After more than four decades working to prevent child illness, suffering and death, IBFAN is well aware of the pain that each loss causes. In more than 160…
France passes a law to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in several products
20 Feb 2025 Today, France has passed a new law that will ban PFAS in several products including clothing and cosmetics. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of over 10,000 highly persistent synthetic chemicals often called ‘forever chemicals’, because…
UK Government authority calls for follow-up formula ad ban and generic labelling
BFLG-UK response to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) infant and follow-on formula market study: 8 April 2025 UK government authority calls for follow-up formula ad ban and generic labelling Press release 14th February 2025 Baby Milk Action/ IBFAN UK…
Government response to Food, Diet and Obesity Committee
30 January 2025 The UK Government has responded to many strong recommendations in the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee inquiry report, Recipe for Health: a plan to fix our broken food system. The House of Lords report…
Plastic Treaty fails: can Codex change and prioritise human and planetory health?
Plastic Treaty fails: can Codex change and prioritise human and planetary health? IBFAN interventions at CAC 47 – Video clips Webcasting of all sessions Documentation of CAC47. Participants Draft Report Stop Press: Sidney Morning Herald investigation into the donations and…
Life long risks of sugars in baby foods and double standards prompt calls for transparency and regulation.
The harm caused by manufacturers of sweet processed baby foods is at last being exposed and prompting calls for transparency and regulation. Researchers from the University of Southern California (31.10.24) have found that cutting sugar in the first 1,000 days…
Compilation: Blogs about former US President Donald Trump
2015: Bolton, Trump, Johnson – how food standards get lowered “Improper political interference” in US baby foods puts health and scientific integrity at stake . 2018 Conflicts of Interest and US pressure at the Codex meeting in Rome…
Compilation on EU and UK legislation
Compilation of some of the press releases and blogs related to EU legislation – a work in progress! Romania: EU legislation and the protection of child health Blog about Romania March 2017 https://www.babymilkaction.org/archives/11290 UK News: specialised formulas more likely…
Papers
Last chance to Support the addition of Exclusive Breastfeeding as an indicator in the Sustainable Development Goals.
Last chance to support the inclusion of an EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING indicator in the Sustainable Development Goals. DEADLINE Thursday 15th August 2024 Deadline Today: 15th August 2024 Here is the link to the submission page where you can add your details and…
Will our UK politicians protect UK rights to legislate in the public interest?
Part of the new Government’s strategy is to grow the economy. Based on IBFAN’s long experience advocating for policy coherence with WHO recommendations we urge that any new Trade deals that the UK enters must not be allowed to…
How the US waged a Global Campaign againstBaby formula Regulations
CLICK HERE for the full story https://www.propublica.org/article/how-america-waged-global-campaign-against-baby-formula-regulation-thailand?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature MORE FROM THIS INVESTIGATION Documents Show Internal Clash Before U.S. Officials Pushed to Weaken Toddler Formula Rules Government documents obtained by ProPublica show a stark rift between trade and health officials over international…
House of Lords inquiry on Food, Diet and Obesity Committee
written evidence BMA HoL8.4.24 25 March 2024 – Food, Diet and Obesity – Oral evidence Committee Food, Diet and Obesity Committee Inquiry Food, Diet and Obesity At 2:15pm: Oral evidence Inquiry Food, Diet and Obesity Prof Carlos Monteiro Professor of…
Trade Update: Briefing on ISDS, UK withdraws from ‘outdated’ Energy Charter Treaty
Briefing: Parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (February 2024) Baby Milk Action and IBFAN join UK NGOs in calling on the Government to guarantee time for a debate on a substantive…
Useful links
Irish stories December 2023 Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 We must close the loophole that facilitates misleading online ads for baby formula A new Bill making its way through the Dáil offers an historic chance to end baby…
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE WHO EXECUTIVE BOARD on Gaza
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE WHO EXECUTIVE BOARD Health situation in the occupied Palestinian territory Recording of the session. DRAFT RESOLUTION At the request of 15 Member States, this Special Session of the WHO Executive Board was held in WHO Headquarters,…
New essential publications on the health risks of Ultra-Processing
___________________________________________________________ Ultra-Processed Foods marketed for infants and young children in the UK This new report from the deservedly widely trusted charity, First Steps Nutrition Trust (FSNT) follows on from Chris van Tulleken’s book and is yet more essential reading.…
The Billionaires that Made our World: Gates
The Billionaires that made our world: Gates Feb 15, 2023 This must-see C4 Dispatches Investigation doesn’t address nutrition issues and the Multi-stakeholder entities such as SUN and GAIN that he has funded, but it does allow some great comments from…
Protected: Private: Global Breastfeeding Collective
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
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.…
Ask your MP to protect breastfeeding, families in crisis and children in working poverty
The Coronavirus crisis is throwing up enormous problems for so many people and its hard to see where, when or how this nightmare will end. You can help by contacting your MP to make sure the following safeguards are in…
Multi-stakeholder partnerships: what are the risks? The case of Scaling up Nutrition (SUN)
Multi-stakeholder partnerships: what are the risks? The case of Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) PDF The potential of partnerships with the private sector has dominated the narrative of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 overshadowing…
New Updated tools for protecting breastfeeding, including in emergencies
Updated WBTi tool includes IYCF-E with rich information around IYCF-E from countries who use this tool: https://www.worldbreastfeedingtrends.org/uploads/resources/document/wbti-tool-2019.pdf
Swiss Development Aid, Nestlé and Water Privatization
Interesting article by Franklin Frederick (published in two places) on the scary deals being struck by Nestle with the Swiss government. Swiss Development Aid, Nestlé and Water Privatization Franklin Frederick 26/08/2019 https://www.globalresearch.ca/swiss-development-aid-nestle-water-privatization/5687211 https://www.alainet.org/en/articulo/201783 Nestlé and the Privatization of Water Nestlé’s…
Expose of International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) – beware!
https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/03/science-institute-that-advised-eu-and-un-actually-industry-lobby-group?__twitter_impression=true Science institute that advised EU and UN ‘actually industry lobby group’ International Life Sciences Institute used by corporate backers to counter public health policies, says study June 3rd 2019 Arthur Neslen An institute whose experts have occupied key positions…
WHO finds Breastfeeding reduces child obesity risk by up to 25%
Breastfeeding reduces child obesity risk by up to 25% The World Health Organisation says marketing claims formula is as good for babies as breast milk are misleading Obesity Facts: Association between Characteristics at Birth, Breastfeeding and Obesity in 22 Countries:…
World Public Health Nutrition Association documents conflicts of Interest.
See the new World Public Health Nutrition Association (WPHNA) website that documents and reports on conflicts of interest in public health nutrition policymaking, program delivery and research. https://wphna.org/conflict-of-interest/
Baby Milk Action response:EU Brexit Consultation – The Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
UK Brexit Consultation. The Nutrition (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 Baby Milk Action Comment Baby Milk Action IBFAN UK EU Chronology Consultation description This two week consultation conducted by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) ended on Friday 14th.…
A Moment of Reckoning for Nutrition Advocates at the WHA
CLICK HERE Written by Amruta Byatnal Published on June 7, 2018 News Deeply, Malnutrition Deeply A Moment of Reckoning for Nutrition Advocates at the WHA Nutrition advocates have accused the U.S. of siding with private sector interests, sparking a…
Global Breastfeeding Collective
Global Breastfeeding Collective The Global Breastfeeding Collective brings together implementers and donors from governments, philanthropies, international organizations, civil society and is led by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi The Initiative’s vision is a world in which…
IBFAN call to action: stand up to a new initiative by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
IBFAN call to Action.23.10.17 Call to action Protecting infant health: IBFAN stands up to a new initiative by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation A few years ago, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) turned its attention towards infant…
Support objection to EU Commission Glyphosate proposal
Environment committee vote on glyphosate – 19th October – SUPPORT proposed objection to European Commission’s insufficient proposal Dear Member of the European Parliament, As a membership network of over 70 public interest organisations aiming to promote and protect people’s health…
44th Committee on Food Security in Rome
You can watch the proceeding of this important Committee HERE The Multi Stakeholder Public Private Partnership approach is being heavily pushed as the solution to many many problems – including disputes over land rights, land grabbing, deforestation, mono-cropping etc. Thankfully there are…
Protected: Health Professional Associations and the baby feeding industry
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
Stewart Lee at the Edinburgh Fringe
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…
Deadline for comments on WHO Consultation on baby food promotion
A reminder that Monday AUG 10th is the deadline for comments on WHO’s consultation on “Clarification and guidance on inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children” See my consultation page for background documents and comments from Baby Milk Action,…
More useful links on the risks of free trade deals (TTIP and TPP)
More useful links on the risks of free trade deals (TTIP and TPP) The Consequences of Free Trade Useful 11 minute film published by teleSURon 18th June: CLICK HERE Richard Seymour picks apart the controversial deal, and harshly criticizes the international media…