WHO Consultations

WHO Consultation on Conflicts of Interest in nutrition Here is a comment from IBFAN. IBFAN_WHO_COI_Nutrition_24_9_17 Here are comments from the Geneva Infant Feeding Association GIFA comments+refs Comments by Judith Richter: http://www.who.int/nutrition/consultation-doi/judith_richter.pdf Judith Here is a comment from Marc Rodwin http://www.who.int/nutrition/consultation-doi/marc_rodwin.pdf Here is…

Tobacco industry ploy to get its feet under the table?

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…

Buying nutrition science: How food industry sponsorship skews research and harms public health

Buying nutrition science: How food industry sponsorship skews research and harms public health Nutrition seminar by Marion Nestle Tuesday, 26 September 2017 12:30 – 13:30, WHO HG, GenevaLibrary Meeting Room Join in via WebEx https://who-meeting.webex.com/who-meeting/j.php? http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/seminar_26Sept2017/en/

Amazon commercialises the Baby Boxes idea

The decision of the Scottish government to follow the Nordic practice of giving all new mothers Baby Boxes full of useful unbranded things (Click Here) is being exploited by Amazon – who are commercialising and cashing in on the idea with Baby Bundles that…

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…

EU MPS to debate safety on imports from Japan

STOP PRESS: CLICK HERE to hear the debate where MEPs voted in favour of the Resolution below. The Green Group of the European Parliament has proposed a Resolution about imports of food from Japan following the Fukushima disaster. The draft Motion…

US trade deal after Brexit could see milk and baby formula with cancer-causing toxins flood UK market

Click Here US trade deal after Brexit could see milk and baby formula with cancer-causing toxins flood UK market US limits allow up to 20 times more poisonous aflatoxins than the stricter EU regulations Tom Peck @tompeck Monday 7 August 2017 00:00…

Government response to concerns over misleading Aptamil promotion at the Natural History Museum

We were contacted last month by people concerned that the Natural History Museum was hosting an event promoting the Aptamil brand of formula. We have now received a response from the government department responsible for the Museum. The event involved…

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…

Natural History Museum criticised for hosting promotion of unnecessary follow-on formula in tie-in with Danone (Aptamil) and Time Out London

Baby Milk Action press release 25 July 2017 The Natural History Museum is hosting an event on 25 July 2017 promoting Danone’s Aptamil follow-on formula to parents. The museum is facing criticism for undermining advice from NHS Choices to parents, which…

To be trustworthy Codex standards should be protected from commercial influence

To be trustworthy Codex standards should be protected from commercial influence Click Here for the webcast of ‘NGO’ Panel Wednesday 7-8pm 19th July chaired by the outgoing Codex Chair, Awilo Ochieng Pernet. Panel Members: AOAC International (Erik Konings, Past President)…

Medela marketing and conflicts of interest

Baby Milk Action’s Look What They’re Doing in the UK monitoring report profiles the major baby feeding product companies and retailers. I have just added the profile for Medela. This is a breast pump company, which also promotes its Calma feeding bottle…

Fortification: Too Much of a Good Thing?

The rise in fortification interventions since the establishment of the Scaling Up Nutrition and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has been dramatic – and has given the ultra-processed food corporations a big boost. BBC World Service broadcast a…

UNILEVER Dove campaign shows its commitment to breastfeeding is empty words

Update 11 July 2017: Unilever has withdrawn its advertising campaign, according to campaignlive.com. Thank you to everyone who contacted the company. (Unilever has so far only sent Baby Milk Action a standard email defending the campaign – let us know…

Ask you MP to attend the APPG on Infant Feeding & Inequalities

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Infant Feeding & Inequalities works to bring together Members of Parliament (MP) to work together to improve infant feeding policies. Following the election in June 2017, it is necessary to reconvene the APPG –…

Julie Crawford Award 2017: Bernadette Wood

Protecting breastfeeding from commercial in influence BFLG press release 28 June 2017 (National Breastfeeding Celebration Week in England began on 26th June) The Julie Crawford Award for Breastfeeding Support for 2017 has been won by Bernadette (Bernie) Wood, a Health…

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…

Poet Hollie McNish is Baby Milk Action’s new Patron

Press release – 28 June 2017 (National Breastfeeding Celebration Week in England began on 26th June) Baby Milk Action is delighted to announce that poet Hollie McNish has agreed to become a patron of the not-for-profit organisation, which campaigns to…

EU Council conclusions on Childhood Overweight and Obesity

CLICK HERE There is growing recognition of the importance of early years feeding in long term health, obesity prevention and health inequalities. So we were pleased to read the EU Council conclusions regarding actions that can be take to halt…

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…

Nestlé violations in Botswana

Health experts call out Nestlé for violations Botswana Gazette CLICK HERE

Protected: Health Professional Associations and the baby feeding industry

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

No better time to read Prevention Diaries

With so much heartache in the news caused by lack of attention to prevention measures – this is a good time to read Prevention Diaries: The Practice and Pursuit of Health for All by Larry Cohen, Executive…

Body Shop to be sold by L’Oreal – growth disappointing after being added to Nestle boycott list

“Anita sells out” – that was the front-page headline of the Independent newspaper when Dame Anita Roddick sold Body Shop to L’Oreal in March 2006. Aside from the concerns over L’Oreal’s record on animal testing and other ethical issues, the cosmetic…

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

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…

Mike Brady is running the English Half Marathon for Baby Milk Action

I am running the English Half Marathon on 17 September 2017 for Baby Milk Action. To sponsor me, click on the donate button to go to our secure payment system hosted by Romancart. I am funding myself to take part in the run.…

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…

Response from Minbie to Look What They’re Doing in the UK 2017

Baby Milk Action sent its company profile on Minbie to the company for its response. The profile shows how the company encourages mothers to introduce feeding bottles with its teats from day one, claiming that this “nurtures a proper breastfeeding latch”. Asked…

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…

Action in the UK Parliament – and during the General Election campaign

Click here for our Update newsletters. Baby Milk Action supporters were amongst those encouraging their Members of Parliament to support the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Infant Feeding and Inequalities, which was formed on 19 January 2016. Following the announcement of…

Monitoring prompts changes to advertising and promotion of baby feeding products

Baby Milk Action’s monitoring report shows how formula, feeding bottle and teat companies and retailers market their products. The number of profiles continues to grow as we document the practices of more companies. Click here for the report. Exposing company practices is…

NUK to drop false “clinically proven” claim plus Managing Director responds to monitoring report

Baby Milk Action has published a profile of NUK bottles and teats in its Look What They’re Doing in the UK 2017 monitoring report. This has led to misleading claims being exposed and a requirement they are not used in…

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…

Intervention by IBFAN-GIFA at Nestle shareholder meeting 2017

Mr. Chief Executive Officer, My name is Camille Selleger and I speak on behalf of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), recognized as an essential partner by WHO, UNICEF and the UN. In this venue, many people already know…

New Nestlé management asked to change direction on baby milk marketing at shareholder meeting 2017

Baby Milk Action press release 6 April 2017 The Nestlé shareholder meeting on 6 April appointed a new board of directors under the Chairmanship of Paul Bulcke, formerly the Chief Executive Officer. Mark Schneider was appointed as new CEO in January 2017.…

So farewell, Mr Brabeck – change at the top of Nestle

The Nestlé shareholder meeting takes place on 6 April 2017, where a new Board of Directors will be elected. This sees the end of the era of Peter Brabeck-Letmathé, who became Chief Executive Officer in 1997 and continued in the role when…

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,…