Global concern is increasing rapidly over the adverse effects of low doses of the chemical Bisphenol A, BPA, on the development of the brain of babies...
Launch of the global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
In November 2009, the United Arab Emirates organised a series of events for National Breastfeeding Week, including the second Regional Conference on Human Lactation and the launch of the global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival, the gBICS. The Conference and the gBICS launch had as their theme "Breastfeeding: decreasing infant mortality and morbidity", and both were held under the patronage and attendance of Her Highness Shamsa bint Suhail Al Marouei, wife of the President of the United Arab Emirates. Read more
This statement was made by Anwar Fazal, then President of the International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU), on October 12 1979 at the WHO/UNICEF meeting on Infant and Young Child Feeding, held in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-12 October 1979...
International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC) Resources
"Protecting Infant Health", IBFAN's flagship publication for health workers has gone into its 11th edition. It has been completely re-written and illustrated. This popular booklet is designed to make the legal Code language easy to understand. An ideal resource especially for those health workers who are concerned about commercial influence on their profession and in health facilities.
"Protecting Infant Health" shows how active use of the Code can make a difference, protect breastfeeding and save lives. It also discusses current issues such as the Code in the context of emergencies, HIV and bf , health claims and sponsorship. (A5 - 80 pages with Code and resolutions)
STATE OF THE CODE 2009 - NEW!!
Each chart is sold at US5 per copy. To mark the launch, get both charts for US$10 inclusive of air-mail postage to any part of the globe. Write to ibfanpg@tm.net.my for more details.
This chart reports on the compliance of 17 infant food and 12 bottle and teat manufacturers with the Code. It is based on more than 3,000 reports collected between June 2004 and November 2007 by volunteer monitors
in 67 countries worldwide.
A ‘fine-tuning’ of the Code requirement categories now reflects more accurately the global extent of legal measures implemented by 196 countries to protect breastfeeding. The updated chart shows, in an easy-to-understand format, how some countries have improved, while others have maintained their achievements, and yet how others have slipped. Since the introduction of the 'Blue SOC', some 70 percent of countries in the world have a law or another measure to implement the Code. A remarkable achievement !
IBFAN
---------------------------------------------------- The International Baby Food Action Network - consists of public interest groups working around the world to reduce infant and young child morbidity and mortality. Click here
Regional Sites ---------------------------------------------------- IBFAN is arranged into eight operative regions with Regional Co-ordination Offices (RCO) and (in some cases) with IBFAN regional websites. Click here
Information to consumers
--------------------------------------------------- Do you know that powdered baby milks or formulas, even in sealed and unopened packets, are not sterile products?
If you want to receive our latest news, now you can subscribe the IBFAN Website RSS newsfeeds
from here!
New baby formula scare in China
Chinese baby girls between the ages of 15 months and four years old have reportedly developed breasts after drinking milk formula. Link
Presentation given by Lida Lhotska at the GOLD 2010 conference
The talk is about the protection of breastfeeding, positioned it in the historical political context of the past more than 30 years. Link
Letter to Mead Johnson about its marketing in the Philippines
Patti Rundall wrote on behalf of Baby Milk Action (the UK member of IBFAN)
and the Baby Feeding Law Group. Read
South Africa: Infant milk formula is "no different from skin lightening creams" and should be banned worldwide
Infant milk formula is "no different from skin lightening creams" and should be banned worldwide, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Thursday. Full article
Guatemala: First promotion of a new Masters Degree on Infant Feeding
Masters Degree on Planning and Management of Infant Feeding Policies and Programmes - First Promotion 2010 - Galileo University and Macondo Institute. Link
New research finds baby milk formula exacerbates obesity. Industry partnership spins the new formulas as 'closer to breastmilk' breakthrough
The results of two studies, the EU Childhood Obesity Project (CHOP) and the Early Nutrition Programming Project (EARNEST) being presented at a Congress in Munich this week, show that the composition of formulas on the European market has played a significant role in the exacerbation of childhood obesity... (Baby Milk Action press release). Full text
Nestle challenged over health claims which tell mothers that baby milk will 'protect' their babies
Nestle Annual Shareholder Meeting, Palais de Beaulieu, Lausanne, Switzerland, 15th April 2010. Full article
New Zealand: World keeping an eye on melamine
A New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) toxicologist is working with a group of experts from around the world to set an internationally-accepted limit for melamine in foods that will harmonise global efforts to detect any deliberate adulteration in the future. Full article
Early breastfeeding indentified as an important factor for improving survival of preterm newborns
Bhutta et al. study shows how breastfeeding is one of the more effectiveness interventions for given soon after birth. Read full article
The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) confirms the importance of Breastfeeding as a Human Right
The Committee on the Rights of the Child has recommended to almost all the countries reviewed during its last session (Session 53, January 2010), to protect and promote breastfeeding as a fundamental right of the child. Read
Haiti: Joint statement on Infant and Young Child Feeding of UNICEF, WHO and WFP
UNICEF, WHO and WFP call for support for appropriate infant and young child feeding in the
current emergency, and caution about unnecessary and potentially harmful donations and use of
breast-milk substitutes. Read / Read more...
Global Programme Offices
The International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC) located in Penang, Malaysia supports the entire IBFAN network on Code and related matters. It also provides training and legal advisory services to governments, international agencies and national groups on Code implementation and Code monitoring.
The Geneva Infant Feeding Association (GIFA) serves as IBFAN'sinternational liaison office, acting as the interface between the IBFAN network and the UN agencies based in Geneva. GIFA also provides technical support to the IBFAN thematic working groups and administers and manages IBFAN's global projects and fundraising efforts.