RESPONSE BY NESTLE TO THE WHO CODE ON BREAST-MILK SUBSTITUTES

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 707-707
Author(s):  

The Nestle Group has prepared written instructions (dated February, 1982) for its employees on the implementation of the W.H.O. International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. . . . The instructions appear in parallel with the relevant sections of the code, and the comparisons thus offered raise some doubts about the purity of Nestle's intentions. Article 2 of the international code, for instance, states that it covers all breast-milk substitutes, including complementary foods. Nestle has limited its applicability to infant formula alone, exempting its weaning cereals and canned milks, which are often marketed as early supplements to breast milk. Concerning the circulation of informational and educational material to pregnant women and mothers of young children, Nestle says: "Information intended for mothers. . . may bear corporate and product brand (packshot permitted)." Is this really within the terms of the code? Another requirement of the code disregarded by Nestle, is the inclusion in any such material of a warning of the health hazards of the improper use of infant formula. Article 5 of the W.H.O. code states that "There should be no advertising or other forms of promotion to the general public of products within the scope of this Code." Nestle has written: "Information relating to specific brands of infant formula must not be communicated directly to mothers or to the general public." Conceivably, such a statement could permit generic infant formula advertising in the mass media. Analysis of Nestle's guidelines discloses ways in which they might be used to circumvent various parts of the international code, such as the code's stipulations on free samples to health workers and free supplies to institutions.

2018 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 79-101
Author(s):  
Anna Koronkiewicz-Wiórek

THE REGULATORY DEFICIENCIES OF POLISH REGULATION CONCERNING ADVERTISEMENT AND OTHER MARKETING TECHNIQUES RELATING TO PRODUCTS RELEVANT TO PROTECTION OF BREASTFEEDING, WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO THE INFANT FORMULAE. AN OUTLINE OF THE ISSUESThe aim of this article is to draw attention to the regulatory deficiencies of Polish regulation concerning advertisement and other marketing techniques related to products relevant to protection of breastfeeding, with special regard to infant formulas, and the evaluation of its effectiveness for breastfeeding protection. This regulation is non-transparent, heterogeneous and to a great extent unclear. It is also ineffective and insufficient for the protection of breastfeeding. It is much less rigorous than the standard established by the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes i.e. WHO Code. The main conclusion is that irrespective of the need for improvement of the promotion of breastfeeding, including lactation education of medical staff and parents, legislative changes are necessary in the field of the marketing of food intended for infants and young children, feeding bottles and teats. The best solution would be the full implementation of the WHO Code including subsequent WHA resolutions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma Hidayana ◽  
Judhiastuty Februhartanty ◽  
Vida A Parady

AbstractObjectivesTo measure compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (‘the Code’) in Indonesia.DesignThe study was a cross-sectional survey using the Interagency Group on Breastfeeding Monitoring protocol.SettingPublic and private health facilities in six provinces on Java island in Indonesia.SubjectsA total of 874 women (382 pregnant women and 492 breast-feeding mothers of infants below 6 months) and seventy-seven health workers were recruited from eighteen participating health facilities. The study also analysed a total of forty-four labels of breast-milk substitute products, twenty-seven television commercials for growing-up milk (for children >12 months) of nine brands and thirty-four print advertisements of fourteen brands.ResultsThe study found that 20 % of the women had received advice and information on the use of breast-milk substitutes and 72 % had seen promotional materials for breast-milk substitutes. About 15 % reported receiving free samples and 16 % received gifts. Nearly a quarter of the health workers confirmed receiving visits from representatives of breast-milk substitute companies. Two health workers reported having received gifts from the companies. The most common labelling violations found were statements or visuals that discouraged breast-feeding and the absence of mention about the consideration of local climate in the expiration date.ConclusionsViolations of the Code by health workers, breast-milk substitute companies and their representatives were found in all provinces studied. A regular monitoring system should be in place to ensure improved compliance with and enforcement of the Code.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 467-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aihua Liu ◽  
Yaohua Dai ◽  
Xiaohua Xie ◽  
Li Chen

Author(s):  
Genevieve E. Becker ◽  
Constance Ching ◽  
Paul Zambrano ◽  
Allison Burns ◽  
Jennifer Cashin ◽  
...  

This is the protocol for a scoping review that aims to systematically explore and summarise the published evidence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the Code) and subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions globally. The planned scoping review will seek to identify what research has been conducted on the topic, examine the geographic spread and nature of violations, and summarise knowledge gaps. The Code was adopted in 1981 by the World Health Assembly to protect infant health, in particular from aggressive and inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitutes including formula and related products. Non-compliance with the Code or violations are described in reports, however, no existing systematic review of the global research appears to have been conducted that encompasses the varied disciplines including health, economics, and gender. The review will inform international and national decision-makers on the nature of violations and potentially highlight the need for new modalities to regulate this marketing. The proposed scoping review will use the six-step process of Arksey and O’Malley which includes defining the research question; identifying the relevant literature; selecting studies; charting the data; collating, summarising and reporting the findings; and will include a consultative group.


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