Inappropriate formula distribution as disaster relief

In emergency and relief situations it is important that babies are breastfed, if possible. Artificial feeding in
these conditions is difficult and hazardous and can lead to increased infant mortality rates. The basic
resources needed for artificial feeding, such as water, fuel and sufficient quantities of breastmilk substitutes
are scarce in emergencies. Furthermore breastmilk substitutes donated as humanitarian aid often end up in
the local market and can have a negative influence on feeding practices generally.

The baby food industry has used emergencies generally to promote its products and used "humanitarian aid" as a way of entering into markets and sometimes organisations and members of the public collect formula
with little thought as to whether it is necessary or will be used appropriately.

Large quantities of baby milks were donated by the European Union to the countries of the former Soviet Union in the early 1990s. This tin was distributed in Russia as aid from the European Union and purchased at an open market in Estonia.The tins carried a company brand name, the EU logo and an inscription, "Gift from the European Union to the people of Russia." This gives the impression that the product appears to be endorsed by the EU.

Relief workers in Kazakhstan received so much free infant formula that they used it in their coffee!

Mead Johnson donated more than 2 million bottles or cans of infant formula and other nutritional products valued at over $3.5 million after New Orleans was hit by Hurrican Katrina in 2005, gaining publicity for their products. During the Asian Tsunami of 2005 a US company linked its donation to a celebraty endorsement in
its Public Relations campaign :

"The maker of Bright Beginnings(TM) infant formula, the brand used by Brooke Shields, is doing its part in tsunami relief efforts. Bright Beginnings(TM) Nutritionals is donating $250,000 worth of ready-to-drink infant formula and pediatric drinks to tsunami victims in South Asia. Distribution will be handled by Operation USA. I know many babies and children in the affected areas of the tsunami will benefit from this type of donation, Shields said."

While there are times when artificial feeding may be necessary in emergency situations it is far better for emergency relief organisations to source supplies locally to ensure they are labelled in the correct language and distributed appropriately.
Dr Anahit Demirchyan, Coordinator of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in Armenia, said that "The distribution of breastmilk substitutes as humanitarian aid almost destroyed our breastfeeding programmes."

During the Kosovo crisis in 1999, Marie McGrath (Institute of Child Health/Save the Children UK) carried out research on infant feeding in Macedonia. She observed that :"There was no way of monitoring unsolicited donations of infant feeding items arriving by road... Much of the distribution of infant formula was untargeted, uncoordinated and unmonitored."

IBFAN is actively working with aid and development organisations on issues surrounding infant feeding
in emergencies.