40K people call for immediate halt to an unethical formula study in Uganda and Guinea-Bissau

. UPDATE ON THIS RESEARCH This study has now been published. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/1/e2023062228/196183/Breastfeeding-and-Once-Daily-Small-Volume-Formula?autologincheck=redirected Rather than take on board the many serious criticisms made regarding the protocol paper, the authors have sadly doubled down, ending the abstract with “more research” is…

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.

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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…

Two wonderful people we lost this year. Hussein Tarimo and Radha Holla Bhar

Thanks to WABA for the photos and some of the text on this page Hussein Hassan Tattue Tarimo IBFAN and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) are truly sad to announce the passing away of our dear friend…

Academics express concern over conflicts of interest in South Africa

On Board with Nestlé? Academics express concern over conflicts of interest Maverick Citizen: Academic independence https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-23-on-board-with-nestle-academics-express-concern-over-conflicts-of-interest/ (Photo: logos-world.net/Wikipedia) By Mark Heywood Follow 23 Nov 2021 1 Academics across the world have been expressing growing concern over what they describe as ‘corporate…

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,…

Baby food industry lobbies to weaken Codex standards on sweetness and flavouring

Baby food industry lobbies to weaken Codex standards on sweetness and flavouring Unhealthy UN partnerships: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are the parent bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. In 2021 FAO adopted…

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…

COP26:The baby food industry’s needless destruction of an irreplaceable natural resource – a form of ecocide?

FINAL COP STATEMENT French translation The baby food industry’s destruction of an irreplaceable natural resource IBFAN Statement 5th Nov 2021 The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes [i] was adopted forty years ago by the World Health Assembly, the…

A Fatal Engagement – article by Arun Gupta

https://drarungupta.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-fatal-engagement.html (Child Health, Nutrition and its Governance, Public Policy and Politics) A Fatal Engagement Development of India’s food policy is dominated by the food industry and makers of chemical nutrients through their front groups or advisers-thus undermining the health of…

M8 Alliance Declaration: From Words to Action World Health Summit 2021

M8_Alliance_Declaration M8 Alliance Declaration: From Words to Action World Health Summit 2021 | October 26, 2021 The COVID–19 pandemic is far from over and we have to explore and implement innovative and effective measures to defeat this virus and to…

Baby Milk Action Year Report and AGM papers

Baby Milk Action’s members are essential for the continued operation of the organisation and for its democratic accountability. Click here to join. The members’ AGM will take place via ZOOM on Friday, 29th October 2021. The papers for the meeting…

GLOBAL TRADE: Safer labelling on baby foods and drinks urgently needed

IBFAN FUF comment IBFAN RUTF comment IBFAN COMMENT FOPN IBFAN ENCA CRD 46th CCFL 3 Governments must take the lead on public health policies: Safer labelling for baby drinks and foods urgently needed. 46th Codex Committee on Food Labelling IBFAN…

Comments on UK DRAFT DHSC Guidance Notes

FINAL GUIDELINES https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infant-and-follow-on-formula-and-food-for-special-medical-purposes https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infant-and-follow-on-formula-and-food-for-special-medical-purposes/commission-delegated-regulation-eu-2016127-supplementing-regulation-eu-no-6092013-guidance DRAFT DHSC Guidance Notes on Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 (supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013) 16th August 2021 The UK has held a consultation on draft guidance on Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 for…

Nestlé cancels its ‘Free Stokvel Mom and Child Forum’ following protests

FOOD JUSTICE Nutrition activists urge Nestlé to cancel ‘Free Stokvel Mom and Child Forum’ saying it violates SA regulations By Mark Heywood and Michelle Banda• 12 August 2021 Note: At 8.50 am on Friday, August 13, this article was updated following…

US authorities remove breastfeeding newborn and prompt outrage

Authorities take 2nd child from ‘American Idol’ contestant, prompting outrage Syesha Mercado, who is fighting to get her toddler back, recorded deputies taking her newborn from her in an Instagram Live video. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1276796 ______________________________________________________________- Lancet: 40 years of the Code…

Closure of the EU Platform for Action on Diet

Closure of the EU Platform for Action on Diet_signed (see previous Blog: NGO left the Platform: July 2019. https://www.babymilkaction.org/archives/22161 Dear Sir or Madam, Please be informed that in order to meet our obligations and objectives stemming from the new…

Will the Food Systems Summit protect human rights and breastfeeding – part of the first food system?

Will the Food Systems Summit protect human rights and breastfeeding – part of the first food system? Program With every day yet more news of climate and food crises, loss of biodiversity, mass extinction of species, rising social inequalities, conflicts…

World Breastfeeding Week 1-7th August

World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August,2021 Protecting breastfeeding – where lies the responsibility? World Breastfeeding week (WBW) is organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in 1-7th August. (WBW is celebrated in October in Europe.) IBFAN and partners will…

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…

Stop Ecocide amendment submitted to the UK Environment Bill

Baroness (Natalie) Bennett of Manor Castle, former leader of the UK Green Party, has submitted an ecocide amendment to the Environment Bill currently making its way through the House of Lords (the UK’s upper chamber). Stop Ecocide International, co-founded in…

Grassroots organizations oppose the UN Food Systems Summit

Grassroots organizations oppose the UN Food Systems Summit Rome, Italy. July 2021. “At a time when poverty rates, economic disparity, conflicts and hunger are rising, the Food Systems Summit and the N4G promote short term treatment models, with little attempt…

UK decision to slash foreign aid paves the way for private cash

The decision by the UK Government to slash foreign aid is being widely criticised as penny-pinching. We believe this misses the point. Surely the decision is not about saving cash at all, but part of a deliberate strategy to let…

Please help ensure an end to misleading promotion of risky, ultra-processed baby drinks.

The Deadline for the next round of Codex comments covering Drinks for young children (12-36 months) was 30th June.. The next and possibly final online nutrition meeting where a decision will be taken will be November. Click here for…

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…

Join Civil society in challenging the UN Food Systems Summit

People’s Organisations Counter the UN Food Systems Summit The UN Food Systems Summit will take place in September in New York during the UN General Assembly, preceded by a Pre-Summit in Rome from 26 to 28 July. The Pre-summit will…

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:…

74th World Health Assembly – stifling the voice of Civil Society

IBFAN is once again following the proceedings of the WHA74 taking place virtually from 24 May to 1 June 2021. This year, as part of the WHO Reform agenda WHO is now proposing to accept only grouped statements from NSAs…

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,…

Protected: Private: Global Breastfeeding Collective

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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…

Boris Johnson, ‘dead bodies’ and selective amnesia on the EU

Guardian Letters Tue 27 Apr 2021 17.53 BST Tory sleaze and Boris Johnson’s careless words and deeds Les Bright, Denis MacShane, Martyn Taylor, David Wall, Patti Rundall and David Huggon respond to an article by Alan Finlayson and the latest…

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…

Baby Food industry refuses to follow the Code – industry-inspired Call to Action is concluded

Baby Food industry refuses to follow the Code – Call to Action is concluded “…The BMS industry as a whole has sent a message that it is unwilling to fulfill its obligation to comply with global health policy that is…

Mark Thomas catches up on Nestlé

what’s Nestlé up to now? Join Mark Thomas, Geoff Atkinson and I for a look back over the years. The YouTube film will be available from the 25th April for one week. TICKETS £5 Move to the second hour for…

Australia: consultation on the industry voluntary self-regulatory agreement (MAIF)

Consultation on the Australian voluntary self-regulatory agreement (MAIF) The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is consulting on an application by the Infant Nutrition Council (INC) for re-authorisation for current and future manufacturers in, and importers into, Australia of infant…

New Lancet series: Revisiting maternal and child undernutrition

Revisiting maternal and child undernutrition in low-income and middle-income countries: variable progress towards an unfinished agenda Prof Cesar G Victora, MD Prof Parul Christian, DrPH Luis Paulo Vidaletti, MSc Giovanna Gatica-Domínguez, PhD Purnima Menon, PhD Prof Robert E Black, MD…

Food Standards Agency International Conference

I attended the Food Standards Agency International conference today. (note that the FSA is no longer responsible for nutrition in England and Wales) Supporting an evolving world – International co-operation and regulation Chair: Steven Wearne, Vice Chair at Codex…

Journal of Human Lactation interviews

The Journal of Human Lactation has been publishing a series of interviews of people who have been instrumental in the formation of the Code and Resolution. Here are 3 of the interviews that were conducted by Maryse Arendt, IBCLC, BSEd. …

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…

BBC Reith LecturesL Is Danone a good model to follow? IBFAN questions Dr Mark Carney

Reith Lectures From Moral to Market Sentiments. 2020 Mark Carney – How We Get What We Value The 2020 Reith Lectures, aired on BBC Radio 4 in December, were inspiring and enlightening on many levels. However we were surprised to…

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…