PHM-Exch> Press Release: World health assembly calls for ending of inappropriate promotion of baby foods

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Patti Rundall prundall at babymilkaction.org



  *Great news - we are all delighted with this.    Resolution text will
follow when we get it! *
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*Press Release: World health assembly calls for ending of inappropriate
promotion of baby foods*

  W*orld Health Assembly adopts two landmark Resolutions on the promotion of
junk foods and baby foods*
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*21st May 2010*
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*Palais des Nations,  Geneva *

Tonight, 29 years after the adoption of the landmark  International Code of
Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, the World Health Assembly adopted two
new historic Resolutions which should have long lasting impact on child
health.

First a Resolution proposed by Norway called for Member States to implement
a set of recommendations which aim to reduce the impact on children of the
marketing of 'junk' foods.  They call on Governments to restrict marketing,
 including in 'settings where children gather' such as schools and to avoid
conflicts of interest.

The 'junk food code' (1) as many refer to it - was closely followed by a
Resolution on Infant and Young Child Nutrition, which also highlighted the
impact of commercial promotion  of baby foods on the health and survival of
children, including the rise in childhood obesity, which is now known to be
closely linked with artificial feeding, (2)

The baby food Resolution was debated over three days and tackled several
controversial issues including,  firstly the need to protect promote and
support breastfeeding in emergencies and the need to minimise the risks of
artificial by ensuring that any required breastmilk substitutes  are
purchased, distributed  and used according to strict criteria.  Member
States were urged to follow the  *Operational Guidance on Infant and Young
Child Feeding in Emergencies for Emergency Relief Staff*. (3)

Secondly -  a policy change  that has been resisted  by the baby food
industry for three decades  - that there should be an 'end to all forms of
inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children and that
nutrition and health claims should not be permitted on these foods'. The
Resolution should stop the widespread use of claims about better IQ, better
eyesight or protection from infection, which are so misleading to parents.


The baby food industry were out in force to witness as Member State after
Member State highlighted their continued irresponsible and inappropriate
promotion.  Thailand,  expressed *"deep concern over the ineffectiveness of
voluntary measures' and called for legislative measures to control the
marketing."*
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*Dr Elizabeth Mason, Director of Child and Adolescent Health said,  " We are
very excited about  this Resolution and the renewed commitment for  the
protection of breastfeeding and will continue its support to Member States
on this very important issue."*

The Delegate of Swaziland, Thulani Maphosa,  highlighted his country's
concern about the unethical sponsorship of health workers by baby food
companies and the need to address conflicts of interest.

The misleading advertising of baby foods enticing parents to use them before
recommended age of 6 months - practices that are not permitted by previous
WHA Resolutions and  the ineffectiveness of the voluntary measures that they
much prefer.

Other Resolutions, on the Millennium Development Goals and the Prevention
Pneumonia, adopted today,  recognised the core importance of breastfeeding
in reducing child mortality.  As the WHO Secretariat Report,stated:
*"Breastfeeding
is today the single most effective preventive intervention for improving the
survival and health of children" *



1 *Marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children.*
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2 Children who are breastfed are at reduced risk of obesity.77 Studies have
found that the likelihood of obesity is 22% lower among children who were
breastfed.78 The strongest effects were observed among adolescents, meaning
that the obesity-reducing benefits of breastfeeding extend many years into a
child’s life.Another study determined that the risk of becoming overweight
was reduced by 4% for each month of breastfeeding.79 This effect plateaued
after nine months of breastfeeding.  SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF CHILDHOOD
OBESITY  WITHIN A GENERATION  White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity
Report to the President   May 2010
http://www.letsmove.gov/tfco_fullreport_may2010.pdf
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3  Operational Guidance on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies for
Emergency relief staff. V 2.1) (www.ennonline.net/resources/6



      For more information contact:
*Patti Rundall*, OBE, Policy Director, Baby Milk Action
prundall at babymilkaction.org
Anel*ies Allain*,  Director, International Code Documentation Centre
annelies.allain at gmail.com
*Dr Arun Gupta*, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India:
arun at ibfanasia.org
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