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Marketing onslaught on Vietnam

The Associated Press reports that it interviewed dozens of mothers, doctors, health officials and shopkeepers in Vietnam who said that formula companies pay doctors to peddle their products, promote products for infants under age one and approach mothers and health care workers in health facilities — all of which are against the law. AP continues:

The number of Vietnamese mothers who exclusively breast-feed in the first six months — the most crucial period — stands at just 17 percent, less than half what it was a decade ago, according to UNICEF. Meanwhile, formula sales in Vietnam jumped 39 percent in 2008, according to a study by Nielsen, a market research firm. Another survey found that the industry spent more than $10 million on advertising last year, placing it among Vietnam’s top five advertisers.....Health Ministry officials also announced they had uncovered dozens of violations of formula labeling rules. 

Multinationals break Vietnam law in formula sales 20.9.09

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=8621684

Self-regulation...

Self-regulation does not work as a way to limit the extent and impact of marketing. Instead, self-regulatory systems promote trust in advertising among consumers and governments, undermining their resolve to bring in the legislation that is needed to protect health. Under these systems the volume of advertising increases.

Corinna Hawkes, Int.Food Policy Research Institute, Washington
Presentation at the European Platform for Action on Diet and Physical Activity. Feb 2007

Industry compromises IPA

The International Pediatric Association issued an interesting statement for World Breastfeeding Week:

“Unfortunately, promotion of breast feeding worldwide continues to be undermined by the unrestrained marketing of formula milks... IPA has been concerned for years that the prominent public image of manufacturers of infant foods implies a relationship with the profession of pediatrics which compromises the IPA commitment to promotion of breastfeeding. In 2007 at its triennial meeting, the IPA Council of Delegates resolved unanimously that the IPA fully subscribe to the Code and encourage its Member Societies to do the same.”

Not so transparent EU?

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has detailed rules and guidance on conflicts of interest such as: “As a general principle, any conflict of interest shall be incompatable with the obligations deriving from the function of the chairperson and vice-chairpersons.” But are these rules followed? Was EFSA’s weak opinion on sugar influenced by the Vice Chair of its Carbohydrate Panel, Andreu Palou, who chaired a review on sugar funded by the sugar industry? Albert Flynn, the chair of the Panel that oversees the health claims, also declares financial links with the food industry.

6 month policies at risk

EFSA has a new Working Group on Complementary Feeding due to report by 2010. Some WG members, such as Carlo Agostini, Seppo Salminen and Jean-Louis Bresson, seem to have unacceptable links to the infant feeding industry and several are co-authors of an ESPGHAN paper on Complementary Feeding which reintroduces the concept of complementary feeding from 4-6 months (rather than from 6 months which is WHO/Codex policy and already in place in the UK and many EU countries). If EFSA is to re-examine the 4-6 months recommendation, surely it should be based on a transparent and independent scientific review of evidence (if it exists) that the present six-month recommendation is harmful. The UK National Infant Feeding Survey 2005 indicates that the policy has had a good impact so far, delaying the introduction of solids.

Children's Rights in the EU

The new Lisbon Treaty should strengthen child rights in the EU. In addition to Article 24 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the new Article 3 of the Lisbon Treaty means that the EU will have to mainstream children’s rights, ensuring that the ‘best interests of the child’ are taken into account in all relevant policy areas.

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