News Update: UK and International

Published 10 hours ago• 3 minute read

“Mothers are being bombarded by online marketing that makes them doubt their ability to breastfeed. In just one click sound health authority advice is replaced by misleading commercial messages.”
IBFAN Statement at the World Health Assembly May 2025

Media

Despite a 20% cut in its budget following the USA withdrawal from WHO, Member States made several landmark decisions in the hopes of making the world safer and healthier. Among the highlights were:

Dr Cathrine Lofthus, Sec. General, Ministry Health, Norway, Ambassador Francisca Méndez, Mexico and Lais Mais with Dr Alexandre Padhila, Minister of Health, Brazil, who finished his presentation saying:
“Formula is the first Ultra Processed Food children get in touch with. We are sure we will approve the regulation ensuring the right to breastfeeding..”

IBFAN joined , and from Brazil and Mexico. The event was supported by , , and the n. Panel discussion moderated by Zoe Faulkner in the last 30 minutes: Mauro Brero, UNICEF, Veronica Kirogo, Ministry of Health of Kenya, Prof Dr.Md. Abu Jafor, Min. of Health Bangladesh, Marisa Macari, GHAI and Patti Rundall. CLICK HERE for the recording.

Speakers and supporters: Left to Right: Constance Ching, Anna Koronkiewicz-Wiórek, Zoe Faulkner, Mauro Brero, Aaron Emmel, Elisa Mondonça, Marisa Macari, Marina Rea, Simon Barquera, Maryse Arendt, Beatriz Champagne, Patti Rundall. Back row: Cristiano Boccolini, Sonia Venancio, Lorenza Longhi and Lais Amaral Mais,

Chemical Residues and pollutionPrenatal and postnatal exposure to toxic chemicals can harm children’s health. While in some highly contaminated areas even breastfeeding may be at risk, in most cases the immune protective factors conferred by breastfeeding will be much more important. Infant feeding products and packaging contain plastics and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. Toxins accumulate in soil and leach into water, causing contamination of our food and water supplies. CLICK HERE IBFAN page on PFAS (Forever Chemicals) andHERE for Health and environmental impacts. IBFAN’s intervention at the WHA78 stressed the need for action and objective and independent information.

IBFAN WHA Statement on Health Emergency Preparedness and Response.

“IBFAN is a founding member of the inter-agency Infant Feeding in Emergencies group, set up to ensure appropriate coordinated emergency responses. Humanitarian aid and food distribution must be safely labelled and not influenced by commercial agendas or exploited to create new markets for risky products. Infant mortality rises when inappropriate donations disrupt breastfeeding – a resilient practice that provides food, care and immune protection in all emergencies, preventing infection and malnutrition in all its forms. The DG said this week that attacks on hospitals and health workers have become the new ‘normal’. IBFAN calls for a resolution in this Assembly demanding immediate action from the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, to stop these attacks in accordance with the UN Charter and condemning the restriction of water, food and medical supplies to inflict collective punishment.”

A quote from the archives:

Unmasking Influence. Dr Chris van Tulleken, Patti Rundall and others working to reduce corporate influence on health policy are interviewed in this new film by the Commercial Determinants Research Group..The film will be screened in London in July 2025.

You can find more on IBFAN’s website our Policy Blog and our Policy Basics. If you found this mailing interesting and useful CLICK HERE to donate to Baby Milk Action. Many thanks to all our Members who help safeguard our independence. We do not accept any funding from corporations. CLICK HERE for IBFAN’s funding policy.