A series of articles published in the scientific journal The Lancet reveal that the milk powder industry’s propaganda contains misleading data and compromises the health and rights of women and children.
According to the teacher Nigel Rollinsa scientist at the World Health Organization and author of an article on the powdered milk trade, these studies highlight the vast economic and political power of large companies, as well as serious flaws in public policies that prevent millions of women from breastfeeding their children.
Studies show that actions by the dairy and formula industries increase challenges such as anxiety about breastfeeding and child care.
The sales volume of baby milk products reaches 55 billion of euros per year.
Rollins argues that actions are needed in different areas of society to help mothers to breastfeed as long as you wantalong with efforts to combat milk powder selling tactics.
The WHO reinforces that Breastfeeding offers immense benefits babies and young children, providing energy and nutrients, reducing the risk of infection and decreasing rates of obesity and chronic disease in later life.
However, globally only about 50% of newborns is breastfed in the first hour of life, and less than half of babies under six months receive only breast milk — as recommended by the WHO.
Given the significant contributions of breastfeeding to health, the studies now published recommend much greater support for breastfeeding in health and social protection systems, including the maternity leave paid.
According to these studies, currently, about 650 million women lack adequate maternity protection.
series of articles, published this week by The Lancet, explains how the milk powder marketing exploits the lack of support to breastfeeding by governments and society, while misusing gender politics to sell their products.
This includes framing the defense of breastfeeding as a moralistic judgmentat the same time as presents the milk formula as a solution convenient and self-contained for working mothers.
The conclusions of the studies indicate that in addition to end the tactics exploitative marketing practices and industry influence, broader action is needed across workplaces, health, governments and communities.
The initiatives should effectively support women who want to breastfeed, so that it becomes a collective social responsibility rather than penalizing mothers.
Maternity protections should be extended to women working in liberal professions, who are currently excluded from these benefits.
The authors of the studies also ask for formal recognition of the contribution of the unpaid work of women for national development.
Globally, it is estimated that women perform three quarters of all unpaid family care work — three times more than men — about a third of a country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Expanding the training of health professionals on breastfeeding is critical, the documents state, so that they can offer qualified advice to parents before and after birth.
