 |
| Buying Organic FoodArticles about Organic and GEChocolateCoffee and TeaBaby Food MarketingDance of the Vegetable Patch (Recipes) |
New!Recipe newsletter and online recipe "book" My gardening journal - see the gardening section Please see the Newsletter link on the home page for more information about these newsletters. |
Baby Food MarketingFrom the IBFAN (International Baby Food Action Network) website: "According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 1.5 million infants die every year because they are not adequately breastfed. Despite this, companies continue to promote artificial feeding in ways that undermine breastfeeding." This isn't about whether people should use formula rather than breast feed their infants. The issue is irresponsible marketing of formula. How does using formula instead of breastfeeding cause the death of so many infants? There are a few factors that are prevalent in poorer countries, including the use of unsafe water to dilute the formula, using bottles and teats that aren't properly sterilised and diluting the formula too much. Mothers may be introduced to formula by health professionals who have been sponsored by formula manufacturers, and then they have not option than to continue to use formula. It is an enormous expense, and may then be diluted too much. All of this causes diarrhoea, dehydration and malnutrition. Because of the enormous health problem that this is, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted "The International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes". There are still many violations of this Code. Many, many years ago I remember reading about this issue. I remember at Uni, there was a Nestle boycott over it. I thought it was "all over with", and hadn't thought about it since. Now, I learn that it is still a problem. Have a look at the links below. International Baby Food Action Network http://www.ibfan.org Baby Milk Action http://www.babymilkaction.org |