- The World Health Organization (WHO) accuses manufacturers of baby food of “unscrupulous marketing” that specifically unsettles pregnant women and young mothers.
- The manufacturers would manipulate parents and health workers, according to a study by the WHO and the UN children’s fund Unicef.
- Misleading or scientifically unfounded claims are made to trick mothers into giving babies formula instead of breast milk.
According to the WHO, the study is about mothers who actually want and are able to breastfeed, but who are being manipulated by the manufacturers. For example, groups of mothers on social media would be infiltrated or brochures would be distributed – with information that was not scientifically sound. For example, that babies with infant formula sleep longer or that breast milk loses quality over time. For the study, WHO interviewed pregnant women, young mothers and health workers in eight countries around the world.
The study does not mention which companies are involved. There are about half a dozen big companies, said Nigel Rollins, who is responsible for maternal and child health at the WHO.
No campaign against baby food
One of the largest baby food manufacturers is Nestlé. On request, the group announced that the company was already not advertising food for babies under the age of twelve months in 163 countries. By the end of the year, all advertising worldwide for baby food up to the age of six months will be stopped. “Nestlé supports the adoption of laws on the marketing of baby food in all countries,” the company said. Only 25 countries have largely implemented the 1981 code of conduct on the marketing of baby food, the WHO reported in 2020.
The WHO is not about banning baby food from the store shelves, emphasized Rollins. Some babies needed this food. The study only deals with marketing methods that manipulate mothers who actually want to and are able to breastfeed.