21 January 2004: Strategies used by industry to undermine WHO marketing requirements exposed in new IBFAN report

Strategies used by industry to undermine WHO marketing requirements exposed in new IBFAN report Industy lobbying evident at WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva Click to download pdf version Click to order a printed version

A new report launched today by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) documents, from Case Studies commissioned in seven countries, how the industry has operated over decades to undermine breastfeeding and to oppose regulation of its marketing activities and how this influence has been countered by campaigners . The World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board is currently meeting in Geneva and should be giving a high priority to infant and young child feeding under the terms of Resolutions adopted by
the World Health Assembly.

The launch of this report is timely. The lobby of the food industry against the WHO Global Strategy to combat obesity has been exposed in the media over the past few days (click here). Meanwhile health campaigners in Brazil have written to President Lula protesting at Nestlés involvement in the governments ero Hunger programme, which will see the company distributing processed foods to the poorest families. Nestlé is also distributing powdered milk, a strategy which has devastated breastfeeding rates in the past, contributing to unnecessary infant and young child mortality and morbidity.

Mike Brady, Campaigns and Networking Coordinator at Baby Milk Action said:

"The attempts to scupper the Global Strategy against obesity are all too familiar for those working to protect infant health from the aggressive marketing of baby foods. We have learned that baby food companies do all they can to limit and undermine controls on their marketing and we have developed successful strategies to hold them to account. I hope that others will learn from our experiences."

To counter the impact of industry lobbying, IBFAN members are attending the WHO Executive Board meeting and have made interventions in the debates on obesity and are preparing for the discussion on infant and young child feeding. There are concerns that important issues are being sidelined and the influence of the
baby food industry is suspected. Today IBFAN is launching its new report to the press and officials to raise awareness of industry duplicity.

The report, Checks and Balances in the Global Economy: Using International Tools to Stop Corporate Malpractice - Does it Work? contains valuable lessons for all campaigns and examines:

• how breastfeeding rates declined over the course of the past century and the impact this has had on infant and young child health,

• the successful campaign mounted by public interest groups to bring in international measures through the World Health Assembly - the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes which was adopted in 1981.

• experiences in implementing the Code and subsequent, relevant Resolutions in national measures.
  Case Studies were commissioned in: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, England, India, Kenya and Mexico.

The Executive Summary comments:

“ In all countries the industry has lobbied for narrow implementation of the Code and Resolutions, preferably
as a voluntary code, rather than in binding legislation, and has attempted to influence government policy setting with tactics such as sponsoring the research on which policy is based and the health worker bodies represented on government committees. Where industry has failed, it is in large part due to the work done by NGOs [Non Governmental Organisations] in monitoring and exposing company marketing activities and raising awareness of the need for strong measures, taking the Code and Resolutions as minimum requirements. In India and Brazil, legislation has been progressively strengthened to give the broad protection seen today. Within the EU, the calls of the health lobby and the European Parliament brought about some changes to the policies of the unelected Commission, but not full implementation of the Code and Resolutions. In the member states of Belgium and England (as part of the UK), industry arguments for deregulation won out over health concerns. In Mexico, Bolivia and Kenya, governments have followed the industry line.”

UNICEF research has shown breastfeeding rates are are declining in Kenya, but increasing in Brazil
(though this is now under threat with Nestlés involvement in the ero Hunger Programme where it is distributing powdered whole milk). The events at the WHO Executive Board this week will influence policies which will ultimately mean life or death to the most vulnerable people on the planet: the new born and young children.

The section giving recommendations to other campaigns comments:

"According to investment bank UBS Warburg, 46% of Nestlé’s income comes from ‘less healthy foods’ and is at risk if regulations are brought in. With such massive sums at stake on one hand and the health and well-being of millions on the other, treading the path ahead will require the same courage from campaigners as that shown on the infant feeding issue."

For more information contact:

* Mike Brady, Campaigns Coordinator, Baby Milk Action on 07986 736179
* Patti Rundall, Policy Director on 07760 287001.

Email: mikebrady@babymilkaction.org
The full report can be downloaded as a pdf document or contact Baby Milk Action for a review copy.