Legislation on the promotion of breast milk substitutes needs to be strengthened

Organizations distribute study on the promotion of breast milk and the marketing of substitute products.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) have published a study that highlights the need to improve information about breast milk and its substitutes.

The institutions noted that breast milk is capable of saving children’s lives by providing antibodies that protect against childhood diseases.

The study also highlights the legal apparatus that countries have to regulate the commercialization of these products. According to them, of the 194 countries analyzed, 136 have legal measures related to the International Code for the Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

«Aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes, especially through health professionals trusted by parents for health and nutrition advice, is a major barrier to improving the health of newborns and infants. children around the world, ”said Francesco Branca, director of the WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety.

Branca affirms that “health systems must act to increase parental confidence in breastfeeding”.

The recommendation is that babies should be fed only breast milk for the first 6 months of life. Then they should continue to breastfeed with other nutritious foods, up to 2 years or older.

Currently, it is estimated that only 41% of children 0 to 6 months are exclusively breastfed. WHO’s goal is to increase this rate to 50% by 2025.

FUNIBER recently began to promote the Master in Maternal and Child Nutrition, whose objective is to train professionals trained in child health care based on healthy nutrition.

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