Dear CHIFA members
In tomorrow's Lancet<https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00242-3/fulltext> a call to action will be published in relation to the commercialisation of infant feeding.
The call comes from leaders of global healthcare professional assocations which have ended the sponsorship from companies that manufacture commercial milk formula, and asks all such associations around the world to follow this practice. Unfortunately the majority still take such sponsorship which leads to conflict of interest and is damaging to breast feeding. As the letter states
There is compelling evidence that aggressive marketing by manufacturers and distributors of breastmilk substitutes adversely affects feeding practices for infants and young children.
3<https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00242-3/fulltext#bib3> Such marketing undermines breastfeeding and contributes to poor health outcomes in children. It also contributes to the burden of non-communicable disease, particularly among women.
4<https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00242-3/fulltext#bib4>
It is very sad and disappointing that marketing continues to be pervasive in the healthcare system and that many paediatricians still find themselves unable to break this connection, despite the strong evidence of harm shown in the 2023 Lancet series<https://www.thelancet.com/infographics-do/2023-lancet-series-breastfeeding>.
Please bring the letter to the attention of your paediatric or other healthcare association and join with the process of ending this corrupting practice.
Tony Waterston
