Update 36 and Boycott News 36

Baby food marketing laws hit formula sales and improve breastfeeding rates

World Health Assembly tackles health claims, warnings and sponsorship

The latest news on Baby Milk Action’s work is in Update 36
PLUS Nestlé’s Public Relations Machine Exposed briefing paper now available

See the 'latest news' section of  http://www.babymilkaction.org/

* Developing countries and rich nations, where baby food companies are
based, battle over the latest Resolution on Infant and Young Child Feeding which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May. The Resolution tackles health and nutrition claims and inappropriate
sponsorship. It also responds to recent deaths linked to powdered formula which was contaminated during the manufacturing process – protecting the rights of parents for better information and warnings on labels.

* Breastfeeding tops the list of interventions which can reduce under-5
mortality and morbidity. Update 36 looks at laws in Botswana, Ghana,
Tanzania and India which are reducing formula sales while protecting
breastfeeding and helping governments reach the Millennium Development Goals. Meanwhile Tanzania has banished Nestlé’s controversial ‘Nest’ which dominates the front of many of its tins in Africa.

* The campaign to bring the UK and EU regulations into line with World
Health Assembly standards moves on. The UK Government has promised to strengthen the law and is taking a lead in negotiations with the Europe Commission. Meanwhile practices, which are already illegal, go unpunished and companies exploit grey areas of the law.

* Our partners in the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) in
Latvia win a court case over the label of Nestlé’s Nan HA. The UK industry front organisation INFORM resurfaces to suggest ‘Breast is not always best’. Scare headlines of rocket fuel in breastmilk are denounced by the study’s author.

* Nestlé Boycott News: Nestlé is found to be the world’s “least responsible company”; Peter Brabeck, Nestlé’s CEO, says charity giving must boost shareholder value; the Edinburgh Fringe prepares to boycott the Nestlé-owned Perrier Awards and the fifth corporate-free Tap Water Awards alternative.

In Brazil, Nestlé’s production of Pure Life bottled water is stopped (as
featured on BBC Face the Facts, 22 July 2005). PLUS Nestlé’s Public
Relations Machine Exposed briefing paper launched to counter Nestlé’s new PR offensive on the baby milk issue.

* New merchandise – Breastfeeding calendar 2006 now available, plus new books.