TWN Info Service on Health Issues (Feb23/02)
6 February 2023
Third World Network

Lancet 2023 Series on Breastfeeding: Global Launch 8^th February 2023 / Southeast Asia Launch 9^th February 

About the Series 

Breastfeeding has proven health benefits for both mothers and babies in high-income and low-income settings alike. Yet, less than 50% of babies worldwide are breastfed according to WHO recommendations. For decades, the commercial milk formula industry has used underhand marketing strategies, designed to prey on parents’ fears and concerns, to turn the feeding of infants and young children into a multibillion-dollar business—generating revenues of about $55 billion each year. 

This three-paper Series outlines the multifaceted and highly effective strategies used by commercial formula manufacturers to target parents, health-care professionals, and policy-makers. The industry’s dubious marketing practices—in breach of the breastfeeding Code—are compounded by lobbying of governments, often covertly via trade associations and front groups, against strengthening breastfeeding protection laws and challenging food standard regulations. 

The Series will be launched at 12.30-2.00 pm (UK time) on Wednesday 8^th February at the Royal Society of Medicine, London and online. 

The Southeast Asia launch event is online at 10:00 (Bangkok time) / 11:00 (Manila time) on Thursday 9^th February. Register here.

Authors:

Phillip Baker (Australia), Aluisio Barros (Brazil), France Begin (Equitorial Guinea), Donna Chapman (USA), Amandine Garde(UK), Laurence Grummer-Strawn (Switzerland), Gerard Hastings (UK), Sonia Hernandez-Cordero (Mexico), Gillian Kingston (Ireland), Chee Yoke Ling (Malaysia), Kopano Matlwa Mabaso (South Africa), David McCoy (Malaysia), Purnima Menon (India), Paulo Augusto Ribeiro Neves (Brazil), Rafael Perez-Escamilla (USA), Ellen Piwoz(USA), Linda Richter (South Africa), Nigel Rollins (Switzerland), Katheryn Russ (USA), Gita Sen (India), Julie Smith (Australia), Cecilia Tomori (USA), Cesar Victora(Brazil), Benjamin Wood (Australia), Paul Zambrano (Philippines)