Breastfeeding

Image courtesy of Helaina

Helaina on track to deliver breast milk-equivalent baby formula

By Danielle Masterson

The New York City-based company was founded in 2019 by food scientist Laura Katz who aspired to advance nutrition by recreating the functional components of breast milk. The lab produces microbes, ferments, and runs immunity testing.

The report called for policies to improve UK breastfeeding rates including tighter regulation of the infant formula market and paid breastfeeding breaks for women in the workplace. ©iStock/Viktorcvetkovic

Report urges UK to improve poor breastfeeding support

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Scotland and Northern Ireland have made improvements in policies that encourage women to continue breastfeeding but England and Wales still lag behind, according to scorecards in a report from the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi).

SNE says experts are increasingly questioning the benefit of strict communication rules in hospitals designed to encourage breastfeeding. ©iStock/Pilin_Petunyia

Censoring choice? SNE concerned about Romanian infant formula plans

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Restricting mothers’ access to information about infant formula may have negative public health consequences, trade group Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE) has said following a draft Romanian law banning the marketing of formula for under-2s.

UNICEF calls on governments to enact stricter laws to control infant food marketing. ©iStock/Ritter75

UNICEF cracks down on 'inappropriate' infant food promotion

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Five in six children under the age of two do not get adequate nutrition for physical and cognitive development during this critical period, says a UNICEF report calling for tighter regulation of infant nutrition products.

©iStock/DimaSobko

UK criminalises infant formula marketing offences

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

The UK government has introduced legislation that would make a company’s failure to fall in line with EU infant formula and baby food marketing laws a criminal offence subject to fines.

The WHO says countries aren't doing enough to protect breastfeeding from companies promoting infant formula. Photo: iStock-Renato Borlaza

WHO slams industry over breast milk substitutes

By Jim Cornall

A new report says countries’ efforts to support breastfeeding in the face of infant formula promotion aren’t effective enough, but industry says it is playing by complicated and changing rules.

Baby of the family is least likely to be breastfed

This week Down Under

Baby of the family is least likely to be breastfed

By RJ Whitehead

A family’s youngest child is most likely to miss out on breastfeeding, according to an Australian study that also found that a woman’s education level and the number of children she has also affect its likelihood.

UK Green MEP Keith Taylor tabled three objections to the delegated acts – part of the Food for Specific Groups (FSG) regulation – in December. Photo credits: iStock.com / Wavebreakmedia

European Parliament committee to vote on three objections

MEP urges rethink on ‘outrageous’ new formula marketing rules

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A member of the European Parliament (MEP) has urged fellow politicians to support his objections to new rules on the marketing of baby foods, formulas and foods for special medical purposes in a vote today, which he says fails to safeguard the practice...

Baby Milk Action & Nestlé back WHO statement on breastfeeding: “...sends the right signals and can help the cause...

Nestlé backs WHO breastfeeding stance

By Shane STARLING

The world’s biggest infant formula maker Nestlé has backed a World Health Organisation (WHO) statement supporting exclusive breastfeeding of infants until the age of six months.

WHO:

13% in some countries compared to 43% in SE Asia

Europe has world's lowest breastfeeding rates: WHO

By Shane STARLING

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says rising obesity rates among mothers and ready availability and attractiveness of formula has left Europe with the world’s lowest breastfeeding rates.