Spurned milk sparks outcry

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Spurned milk sparks outcry
Doctors say the breast is best for infants but marketing pushes unhealthy choices
Published: 2/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
Bangkok Post: Newspaper section: News

Breastfeeding is vital for child survival as well as brain and growth development.



However, in Thailand, exclusive breastfeeding during a child's first six months is still as low as 5% among the 800,000 newborn babies each year.

A recent report showed that more than 400,000 newborns are given breast milk substitutes. Such high consumption is driven by the highly competitive market and big public relations campaigns.

Milk formula commercials, complimentary samples and gift distribution can be seen in drug stores, hospitals, clinics and department stores.

The amount of formula and breast milk substitutes in the country costs about 11 billion baht a year and market growth is 2 to 5%, according to the Department of Internal Trade.

"Promotion of breast milk substitutes undermines breastfeeding," said David Clark, nutritional specialist at the United Nations Children's Fund, during a recent Unicef meeting in Manila on infant and young child feeding in emergencies.

Global sales of baby food are projected to grow by 37% from US$11.5 billion (349 billion baht) to US$42.7 billion by 2013. Almost two-thirds of this growth will come from the Asia-Pacific, particularly China and Indonesia.

A study examining the relationship between advertising and breastfeeding between 1972 and 2000 found that when the frequency of adverts for artificial feeding increased, breastfeeding rates decreased.

A study by the US Congressional Accountability Office in 2006 found lower breastfeeding rates among new mothers receiving product samples on their hospital discharge, Mr Clark said.

Intensive marketing of infant formula in some Asian countries, including Thailand, not only violates the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes but also harms children's health, according to a National Health Commission (NHC) report.

Infant and young child nutrition issues are expected to be on the agenda of the annual National Health Assembly in December.

From the health aspect, babies depending on milk formula tend to suffer more from diabetes, leukaemia and sudden infant death syndrome than those depending on breastfeeding.

Breastfed babies develop better verbal skills and IQ results. Studies among 300 students aged seven-to-eight years showed kids breastfed until eight months of age had a higher IQ than those depending on milk formula.

Breastfeeding could reduce not only household spending on mixed formula, which is at about 22,000 baht a year, but also cut the number of hospital visits and hospital stays due to problems such as diarrhoea, asthma, rash, sinusitis and protein allergy, according to the NHC.

"Despite all the good points, social and economic changes really affect mothers' ways of life, leading to less breastfeeding and more formula dependence," said Nipunporn Voramongkol, the Department of Health's chief of mother and child health.

Outdated laws supervising the marketing of infant formula had contributed to an increase in the use of breast milk substitutes as well as milk formula and baby food products, she said.

The Consumer Protection Act and the Food Act have governed the marketing of milk formula since 1979. However, some details of the laws are already outdated and should be amended to meet current needs, Dr Nipunporn said.

Sections 40 and 41 of the Food Act ban advertisements promoting the quality and benefits of some food products, including breast milk substitutes. Sample distribution to mothers and donations to organisations are also prohibited.

Countries have been urged to incorporate the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes into national legislation. Companies are also urged to ensure their business practices comply with the code at all levels. The code was developed by the World Health Organisation, United Nations Children's Fund and the International Council of Infant Food Industries in 2008.

A resolution of the 63rd World Health Assembly in Geneva this year also recognised that the promotion of breast milk substitutes and some commercial foods undermined progress in optimal infant and young child feeding.

The assembly also expressed concern about violations of the code by some manufacturers and distributors that target mothers and healthcare workers.

In Thailand, the NHC-commissioned study found that violation of the code occurred in 31% of hospitals, pharmacies and private clinics surveyed.

Kriangsak Jirapaet, panel member of the Royal College of Paediatricians, said it was true some medical-related activities were supported by baby food companies. He will ask the college to query violations.

Pipat Yingseree, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, accepted that violations occurred but said the agency could not penalise these companies as the law did not include punishments for those violating the code.

http://bangkokpost.com/business/economics/199274/spurned-milk-sparks-outcry