Working together to support optimum infant nutrition and informed infant feeding choices
Continue reading for our full statement on optimal nutrition and informed infant feeding choices.
Working together to support optimum nutrition and informed infant feeding choices
In light of the upcoming Global Congress on Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) reiterates its desire to contribute to a balanced, evidence-based dialogue about access to optimum nutrition. Ways to do so include the protection and support of breastfeeding, the responsible marketing of formula and the provision of adequate information about infant formula when necessary. To examine the effectiveness of the implementation of the WHO Code, a holistic, multi-stakeholder approach is required to create an all-inclusive, supportive ecosystem to encourage breastfeeding and to improve nutritional outcomes for mothers, infants and young children.
Every infant has the right to high quality nutrition. Breastfeeding is the best start in the life for a baby. When mothers are unable to breastfeed or choose not to, a safe and nutritious alternative is required. In this context, scientifically developed and clinically-proven infant formula is the only recognised sole-source nutrition alternatives to breastfeeding for infants.
However, too many infants around the world, whether they are breastfed, mixed-fed, formula-fed or neither, are afflicted by malnutrition and its consequences – principally stunting, wasting and being overweight. The infant and young child nutrition industry remains committed to contributing to addressing health challenges, providing high quality, safe and age-appropriate nutrition for infants and young children, and to supporting education on healthy nutrition.
A multifaceted approach is required with stakeholders
In order to adequately support optimum infant nutrition, a holistic approach involving multiple stakeholders is required to effectively address this important issue, including strengthening maternity leave and social protections, workplace policies, public support, readily available lactation facilities, conducive culture, counselling and funding. ISDI and its members support all of these elements, while at the same time seeking to help parents and caregivers who are unable or choose not to breastfeed. Indeed, the WHO Code itself makes provisions for the involvement of industry and other stakeholders “to cooperate in activities aimed at the improvement of maternal, infant and young child health and nutrition”[1].
ISDI hopes that the current debate can be moved beyond what has unfortunately become a polarised breastfeeding vs. BMS discussion toward an inclusive approach that recognises the multifaceted nature of the topic where there is a need for all stakeholders, including industry, to help deliver optimum nutrition in line with the principles of the Code.
The BMS Congress is a missed opportunity to rally all stakeholders, including the private sector and acknowledge the role it can play in supporting access to optimum nutrition and information in a responsible way.
[1] WHO Code – Preamble (see p 12 of the WHO Code available on https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241541601: (retrieved: 12 June 2023)
Access to Nutrition
“Scientists and health experts worldwide agree that children who are well-nourished are much more easily able to develop the cognitive and behavioural skills they need to reach their full learning potential.”
“Multi-sectoral Approaches to Nutrition: The Case for Investment by Education Programmes, UNICEF”
ISDI members are cognizant of their responsibility to further the health of infants and young children who are not – or cannot be – breastfed. Infant formula is formulated to strict regulatory standards and is the only food recognised by the WHO as a suitable and safe alternative to breastmilk. In these situations, infant formula is life-saving and life-sustaining.
Formula feeding is a necessity for some families, and it is important that these families have adequate information including information about infant formula products, their availability, and about any changes and updates.
Since the WHO Code was introduced, continuing changes to family structures mean that some family types and some parents approach feeding choices differently. It is important that the situations in which all infants are raised and the needs of these groups, including non-nuclear and rainbow families are considered by the Congress.
It is essential to unite all efforts toward improving access to a diverse range of high-quality nutritional options as children grow, as well as providing healthcare professionals, parents and caregivers with up-to-date information that caters to the evolving and individual needs and preferences of the children in their care. This will ultimately lead to improved nutrition and health outcomes for infants and young children.
Access to information: the question is not “if” but “how” such access should take place
ISDI members comply with all laws and regulations in the countries in which they operate and have extensive internal approval and audit processes in place to ensure their online and offline content meets all legal, regulatory and nutritional science requirements. In addition, manufacturers of infant and young child nutrition have their own internal and external mechanisms for policy compliance. Our members support efforts by national governments to ensure compliance with all national laws and regulations, incl digital, are met.
ISDI and its members support the right of parents and caregivers to make the appropriate choices for the infants in their care based on transparent and factual information. A recent study showed that parents and caregivers want access to information in order to make informed nutrition choices[1]. The same study also underscored that in a post-pandemic virtual world, ensuring access to information for parents as well as online availability of suitable options that are well-tolerated by healthy infants is essential.
Parents should be supported when choosing how to feed their baby, and should have their choices respected, whatever their feeding journey. We support parents with factual, scientifically-validated nutrition information, including on packaging and on digital channels, so that they can make informed decisions for their particular circumstances. It is a responsibility we take seriously.
[1] See for example INC, Parents have their say about feeding infants and toddlers. Latest results of a comprehensive research study of parents from Australia and New Zealand, 2023, https://www.infantnutritioncouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Parents-have-their-say.pdf (retrieved 12 June 2023)
Interactions with healthcare professionals
Over the years, improvements in maternal, infant and young-child nutritional health have been achieved through effective collaboration between healthcare professionals, scientists, and industry. In this context, engagement between manufacturers and paediatricians is very important.
ISDI shares the joint position of seven European Paediatric Associations which supports fully transparent interaction with providers of nutritional products, based on current scientific, societal, and ethical standards[1] to facilitate providing paediatricians with the information needed to “fulfil their essential role in providing parents and other caregivers with information and support on optimal infant and young child feeding practices”[2]. This interaction is both useful and legitimate provided that it is carried out in compliance with professional and ethical standards. HCPs are experienced and well-informed individuals, with the ability to make professional decisions in the best interests of their patients.
Furthermore, in the recent paper ‘Promoting breastfeeding and interaction of paediatric associations with commercial providers of nutritional products – are they compatible?[3]’, these European Paediatric Associations stated that “…the assumption of WHO that interaction of paediatricians and their organizations with companies providing BMS [breast milk substitutes] would undermine support for breastfeeding and ‘compromise patient care‘ is not supported by accountable evidence.
In conclusion, our industry welcomes all opportunities to work constructively with all relevant stakeholders, including policymakers and healthcare professionals, to promote evidence-based policies, ethical frameworks and parent and caregiver support to improve infant and young-child health and nutrition outcomes.
[1] Bognar Z, De Luca D, Domellof M, Hadjipanayis A, Haffner D, Johnson M, et al. Promoting breastfeeding and interaction of pediatric associations with providers of nutritional products. Front Pediatr.
[2] World-Health-Assembly. WHA Resolution 69.9. Ending inappropriate promotion of foods or infants and young children. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2016.
[3] https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/529217
About ISDI
ISDI is the leading international expert association on special dietary foods, including foods specifically designed for infants and young children. ISDI members are national and international associations that are active in this sector from more than 20 countries over 6 continents. Our members manufacture and market foods that are formulated, in accordance with applicable Codex Alimentarius standards, to meet the compositional criteria, quality requirement and nutritional needs of infants and young children.