Breastfeeding It can play a particularly important role in early childhood nutrition. advantage These include children’s future academic achievement, economic prospects in retirement, and the mother’s health.
Health authorities around the world are following the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation Newborns should be exclusively breastfed whenever possible within the first hour of life and then provided with safe, nutritious food, continuing to be breastfed until the age of two or beyond.
Nevertheless, our Recent Research We can see that global sales of commercial infant formula have skyrocketed. Between 2005 and 2019, global sales of infant formula more than doubled, from 3.5 kg to 7.4 kg per child. Total sales increased from 1 million tonnes to 2.1 million tonnes.
This increase in sales was seen across all types of formula: “standard” infant formula (0-6 months), “follow-up” infant formula (7-12 months), toddler formula (13-36 months) and so-called “specialty” formula – meaning that more children in a wider range of ages are consuming formula.
rapid growth Occurred It is sold in many populous countries, including parts of the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Latin America. The most significant growth has been in East and Southeast Asia, with China in particular accounting for just 14% of global powdered milk sales in 2005, but now accounts for 33% of all sales.
In South Asia, West Africa and Central Africa, sales volume per customer remains low and shows no signs of growth. In Europe and North America, sales volume per customer remains high but has remained stable or declined slightly between 2005 and 2019.
Sales of infant formula doubled between 2005 and 2019. 279photo Studio/Shutterstock
There is Medical reasons It is important to use safe and suitable breast-milk substitutes. Also, some women find it difficult to continue breastfeeding in their circumstances and may use formula as an alternative or complement to breastfeeding. Our Research It also shows that decisions and practices regarding formula use may not be individual choices but may be strongly influenced by broader societal forces, such as commercial marketing.
Sales of formula are known to rise as countries become wealthier and more urbanized and as more mothers enter full-time employment. The surge in formula sales in Asia may be explained in part by the fact that millions of women have joined the paid workforce, particularly in the region’s vast manufacturing belt.
Millions of women around the world are Paid maternity leave and social securityThis means that the decision to formula-feed may only be made out of necessity to avoid losing work or income. Also, many hospitals and health care facilities are not equipped to help women establish breastfeeding, and maternal and newborn care facilities around the world are often left without adequate support. standard Breastfeeding mother and newborn care.
Commercial factors are also important: just five companies control 57% of the global milk powder industry, worth $56.6 billion (£42.5 billion). Estimated marketing spend of $5 billion annuallywhich Powerfully shaping social norms about Feeding babies and children.
Marketing messages portray formula as modern, scientific and comparable to or even superior to breast milk. Target’s mother Provide you with personalized product offers and advertising.
Hospitals are also an important marketing channel. Companies often hire medical professionals to promote their formula. In many countries, medical professionals are paid directly to promote formula. But more commonly, companies influence medical professionals indirectly in the following ways: sponsor Associations, conferences and education.
Companies cross-promote their products using the same packaging. Valestock/Shutterstock
Companies too Cross Promotion The company gets around strict bans on marketing infant formula by using packaging and labelling similar to standard infant formula for its entire line of follow-on and toddler formulas.
Marketing regulations also matter: the fact that milk powder sales have soared in China but plateaued at low levels in India partly reflects the contrasting regulatory environments in which marketing regulations are stricter and more comprehensive in India.
in spite of International Code Stop Aggressive and inappropriate marketing As for breastmilk substitutes, most governments have not fully embraced them. LawAnd even when laws exist, marketing violations by formula companies often go unpunished.The formula industry has also lobbied against increased regulation, in part by promoting its own (much weaker) corporate policies on marketing.
Health concerns
Breast milk, and whenever possible breastfeeding, has many advantages over formula or bottle-feeding, which is why rising sales of formula are a cause for concern.
Breastfeeding reduces the chances of your child getting an infectious disease Develop chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of developing the condition later in life. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes Between mothers.
There is also concern about the increasing consumption of powdered milk by infants and young children. These products: Ultra-processingIt’s expensive and full of sugar. Unhealthy eating habitsThese increased uses may further contribute to the rise in overweight and obese children worldwide.
Formula is not a sterile product and can be dangerous if prepared in unsanitary conditions or if overly diluted or concentrated. Formula lacks the immune-boosting components and other important elements of breast milk, further increasing the risk of malnutrition and infection. As a result, promoting breastfeeding instead of formula can reduce an estimated 823,000 children die each year (mostly in low- and middle-income countries) including 595,000 deaths from diarrhoea and pneumonia, and 20,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer (mostly in high-income countries).
The rapid increase in global sales of formula milk is clearly a problem for global health. Given the power of the formula milk industry to influence corporate behaviour and perceptions, more needs to be done to ensure that all mothers and children are protected from inappropriate advertising and can breastfeed for as long as they wish. This is Strengthening the law Ban harmful marketing practices, expand access to paid maternity leave, and Medical Facilities Meets global standards.
David McCoyProfessor of Global Public Health, Queen Mary, University of London; Julie P. SmithAssociate Professor Emeritus, Australian National Universityand Philip BakerResearch Fellow, Physical Activity and Nutrition Institute, Deakin University Deakin University
This article is reprinted from conversation Published under a Creative Commons license. Original Article.
