Protecting breastfeeding - Protecting babies fed on formula

Baby Milk Action works to protect babies, mothers and their families and health workers from the aggressive marketing practices of the baby food industry.

The basis of our work is the marketing standards adopted by the World Health Assembly. The Assembly is the world's highest health policy setting body, made up of the world's health ministries. It is part of the United Nations system and sets the policy of the World Health Organisation.

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is addressed to governments, companies, civil society organisations and health workers.

You can find full details of the International Code and subsequent Resolutions that update and clarify it on the IBFAN website. The aim of the Code is:

to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and distribution.

So our work aims to protect breastfeeding and to protect babies fed on formula.

Baby Milk Action works on policy and on holding corporations to account. It is not our role to provide information on infant feeding to parents. Accordingly, we have a page of links for information on breastfeeding. There is a lack of independent, objective information on infant feeding, so we have produced our own short guidance film, while calling on the health authorities to produce something themselves. As our film and monitoring evidence shows, the information provided by companies cannot be trusted. It is misleading and has the purpose of increasing sales.