Why are we talking about the World Health Assembly and breastfeeding? Because world policy sets the priorities for money spent on support. And we all know we can use more breastfeeding support. The New York Times released a story about the news. Here is another story about this.
What was the controversy? World Health Assembly and breastfeeding news was all about the USA trying to block other countries from supporting the WHO Code and really this is all about the MARKETING of formula and feeding bottles and teats. Companies making money at the expense of our health.
Let’s explain what the WHO Code is. We let. Kellymom.com explain, “The Code is a marketing code that aims to protect breastfeeding, to protect all mothers and babies (whether breastfeeding, formula-feeding or combination feeding) and to prevent aggressive marketing practices that often prevent mothers from meeting their own breastfeeding goals. Infant formula, feeding bottles, and artificial nipples are the main products that fall within the scope of the Code. Pacifiers and breast pumps are not under the scope of the Code. Note that the Code only applies to the marketing of these items– it does not affect whether they are sold or used.”
Here is a story about what happened in the 1970s with Nestle and their marketing tactics (This one is fascinating) and 1980s. These marketing techniques that killed are still be used today targeting valuable populations.
Here in the USA this is going on all the time. Watch this commercial and think about what are the formula company is really trying to say about their product. Are they being truthful?
I did have these numbers wrong in our podcast. Actually, formula companies spend $480 million per year not $360 as I said, marketing their products to families. We spend $68 million supporting breastfeeding.
We are no opposed to formula use. On the contrary, we use it all the time as a transitional tool for breastfeeding families. Yes, fed is best. But we don’t need to spend millions of dollars to confuse families and promote a product that is inferior to breastmilk.
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