The seminar “Monitoring Digital Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes: Open Data & Global Accountability” was held as a side event during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), which took place from 19 to 24 May 2025 in Geneva, at the Palais des Nations, bringing together nearly 200 Ministers of Health. As in previous years, the Assembly represented an important moment to review and plan the main global public health priorities.
The side event took place on 21 May, in Ballroom C at the InterContinental Genève, and brought together experts from around the world to discuss strategies for monitoring the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes, the importance of open data, and global accountability to protect breastfeeding. The continuous expansion of digital marketing has raised concerns, as everyone is exposed to misleading information — especially mothers, children, and adolescents.
The event was organised by Colansa, in partnership with IBFAN, Save the Children, ALSANNA, the World Obesity Federation (WOF), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), and IDEC (Brazilian Institute of Consumer Protection), with support from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, UNICEF, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), and the Latin America and Caribbean Nutrition & Health Community of Practice.
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