<\/p>\n
A new report by WHO, UNICEF, and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) reveals that despite efforts to stop the harmful promotion of breast-milk substitutes, countries are still falling short in protecting parents from misleading information.<\/p>\n
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for stronger legislation to protect families from false claims about the safety of breast-milk substitutes or aggressive marketing practices. Breastmilk saves children\u2019s lives as it provides antibodies that
\n give babies a healthy boost and protect them against many childhood illnesses. <\/p>\n
WHO and UNICEF encourage women to continue to breastfeed during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if they have confirmed or suspected COVID-19. While researchers continue to test breastmilk from mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, current evidence
\n indicate that it is unlikely that COVID-19 would be transmitted through breastfeeding or by giving breastmilk that has been expressed by a mother who is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19.\u00a0 The numerous benefits of breastfeeding substantially
\n outweigh the potential risks of illness associated with the virus. It is not safer to give infant formula milk.<\/p>\n
Of the 194 countries analysed in the report, 136 have in place some form of legal measure related to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions adopted by the World Health Assembly (the Code). Attention to
\n the Code is growing, as 44 countries have strengthened their regulations on marketing over the past two years.<\/p>\n
However, the legal restrictions in most countries do not fully cover marketing that occurs in health facilities. Only 79 countries prohibit the promotion of breast-milk substitutes in health facilities, and only 51 have provisions that prohibit the distribution
\n of free or low-cost supplies within the health care system. <\/p>\n
Only 19 countries have prohibited the sponsorship of scientific and health professional association meetings by manufacturers of breast-milk substitutes, which include infant formula, follow-up formula, and growing up milks marketed for use by infants
\n and children up to 36-months old.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes, especially through health professionals that parents trust for nutrition and health advice, is a major barrier to improving newborn and child health worldwide,\u201d says Dr Francesco Branca,
\n Director of WHO\u2019s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. \u201cHealth care systems must act to boost parent\u2019s confidence in breastfeeding without industry influence so that children don\u2019t miss out on its lifesaving benefits.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
WHO and UNICEF recommend that babies be fed nothing but breast milk for their first 6 months, after which they should continue breastfeeding \u2013 as well as eating other nutritious and safe foods \u2013 until 2 years of age or beyond. <\/p>\n
Babies who are exclusively breastfed are 14 times less likely to die than babies who are not breastfed. However, today, only 41% of infants 0\u20136 months old are exclusively breastfed, a rate WHO Member States have committed to increasing to at least
\n 50% by 2025. Inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes continues to undermine efforts to improve breastfeeding rates and the COVID-19 crisis is intensifying the threat. <\/p>\n
Health care services aimed at supporting mothers to breastfeed, including counselling and skilled lactation support are strained as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Infection prevention measures, such as physical distancing make it difficult for community
\n counselling and mother-to-mother support services to continue, leaving an opening for the breast-milk substitute industry to capitalize on the crisis, and diminish confidence in breastfeeding.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, health workers are being diverted to the response and health systems are overstretched. At such time, breastfeeding can protect the lives of millions of children, but new mothers cannot do it without the support
\n of health providers,\u201d said Dr. Victor Aguayo, UNICEF\u2019s Chief of Nutrition. \u201cWe must, more than ever, step up efforts to ensure that every mother and family receive the guidance and support they need from a trained health care worker
\n to breastfeed their children, right from birth, everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Code bans all forms of promotion of breast-milk substitutes, including advertising, gifts to health workers and distribution of free samples. Labels cannot make nutritional and health claims or include images that idealize infant formula. Instead,
\n labels must carry messages about the superiority of breastfeeding over formula and the risks of not breastfeeding. <\/p>\n
WHO and UNICEF call on governments to urgently strengthen legislation on the Code during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments and civil society organizations should also not seek or accept donations of breast-milk substitutes in emergency situations.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThe fear of COVID-19 transmission is eclipsing the importance of breastfeeding \u2013 and in too many countries mothers and babies are being separated at birth \u2013 making breastfeeding and skin to skin contact difficult if not impossible.
\n All on the basis of no evidence. Meanwhile the baby food industry is exploiting fears of infection, promoting and distributing free formula and misleading advice \u2013\u00a0 claiming that the donations are humanitarian and that they are trustworthy
\n partners,\u201d says Patti Rundall, of IBFAN\u2019s Global Council.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Monitoring and enforcement of the Code is inadequate in most countries. The report,\u00a0“Marketing of breast-milk substitutes: National implementation of the International Code \u2013 Status report 2020”<\/em>, provides updated information on the Given the important role of health workers in protecting pregnant women, mothers and their infants from inappropriate promotion of breast-milk substitutes, the 2020 report provides an extensive analysis of legal measures taken to prohibit promotion of Active COVID-19 virus has not, to date, been detected in the breastmilk of any mother with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. It appears unlikely, therefore, that COVID-19 would be transmitted through breastfeeding or by giving breastmilk that has been Women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can therefore breastfeed if they wish to do so. They should:<\/p>\n Even if mothers do not have a medical mask, they should follow all the other infection prevention measures listed, and continue breastfeeding. <\/p>\n Notes to editors <\/strong> Download photos and b-roll from UNICEF <\/a>and WHO<\/a>. <\/p>\n Download the report here<\/strong><\/a>. Related links:<\/strong> FAQs on Breastfeeding and COVID-19<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n About the World Health Organization The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with\u00a0194 Member States, across six regions and from more than 150 offices,\u00a0to promote health, keep the world About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world\u2019s toughest places, to reach the world\u2019s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n status of country implementation, including which measures have and have not been enacted into law. <\/p>\n
\n breast-milk substitutes to health workers and in health facilities.<\/p>\nBreastfeeding and COVID-19<\/h2>\n
\n expressed by a mother who is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n
\n safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and wellbeing.
\n UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org<\/a>. For more information about COVID-19, visit www.unicef.org\/coronavirus<\/a>.
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