In response to the predatory marketing practices of the infant formula industry, the World Health Organization (WHO) embraced the Code in 1981 as a means to protect breastfeeding mothers and infants from commercial pressures to avoid or abandon breastfeeding.
Continue readingJuly 18, 2021- A rigorous study showed that formula supplementation in the hospital decreased a mother’s likelihood of sustained exclusive breastfeeding. Hospital supplementation decreased her likelihood of initiating breastfeeding in a subsequent child by at least 66%, and reduced the duration of breastfeeding in any subsequent children by at least 6 weeks.
Continue reading
March 20, 2020- Formula marketing never takes a holiday, it simply moves to greener pastures, as more hospitals have banned the bags (1,316 or 40% of hospital by Ban the Bags’ last count). Continue reading
Toddler milks
March 20, 2020- With slumping infant formula sales has come the industry shift in marketing to toddler or follow-on milks for babies starting as young as 9 months.
Continue readingMarch 20, 2020- Synthetic human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are being added to formula and driving up prices? But are they effective and worth the extra price?
Continue readingBan the Bags reports that 1,316 hospitals and birth centers are now bag-free – 40% of all hospitals and birth centers in the US. While this is always good news, formula marketing never takes a holiday, it simply moves to greener pastures.
Continue readingAll birthing facilities in West Virginia have now eliminated formula company discharge bags, as as confirmed by Ban the Bags. Continue reading
In a February 11 letter to the Lancet, World Health Organization officials criticized the practice of health professional associations taking funding from manufacturers of breast milk substitutes. Continue reading
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is finally taking some major steps to tighten scrutiny of the labeling (and accompanying advertising) messages that the infant formula industry has been using to market their products in the US. Continue reading
UK Criminalizes Formula Marketing Offenses and
JAMA Forum Comes Out against “Big Food”
According to a report, the UK government has introduced regulations that would make a company’s failure to fall in line with EU infant formula and baby food marketing laws a criminal offense subject to fines. Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a positive step for new mothers, Public Citizen reports all Maryland maternity hospitals now are free of infant formula marketing, including company-sponsored discharge bags. Maryland joins Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Delaware in making this transition. Continue reading
The New York City Commissioner of Consumer Affairs subpoenaed Abbott Labs to produce documents backing up its multiple health claims of its infant formulas. Continue reading
