World Breastfeeding Week 2020 has sparked conversations about the broader environmental and social impacts of infant feeding decisions. In our research, we have observed a trend of increased availability and promotion of breast-milk substitute products for young children. Beyond the carbon footprint generated in the production, packaging and distribution of a broader range of breast-milk…
Cambodia has been taking strong steps to monitor and enforce Sub-Decree 133, the national regulation which implements provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. Most recently, The Royal Government of Cambodia and Ministry of Health recently levied fines against four companies who illegally promoted breast-milk substitutes to the public. Helen Keller International…
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has developed a series of valuable policy guides intended to serve as roadmaps for government and civil society nutrition champions on how to build coalitions to advocate for, draft, pass, and eventually enforce regulations to protect consumers from commercial foods and beverages that have no place on a healthy…
Background In 2005, the Cambodian government adopted many provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes as national policy. This Sub-Decree on Marketing of Products for Infant and Young Child Feeding (Sub-Decree 133) supports breastfeeding by restricting the promotion of breast-milk substitutes marketed for children less than 2 years of age, unless approved…
Since 2013, ARCH has been active in the process of revising the Codex Alimentarius Standard for Follow-Up Formula. Each year, the Helen Keller International delegation has attended the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) meeting, advocating with country representatives to make sure that this food standard clearly defines and regulates…
A MILESTONE IN THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS In 2016, World Health Assembly Resolution 69.9 urged countries to implement the Guidance on Ending the Inappropriate Promotion of Foods for Infants and Young Children in their national legal frameworks. Recently, Senegal made major progress towards this policy change. On September 20-21st, Senegal’s draft decree on the marketing of…
This November, the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) will continue its review of the Follow-Up Formula Standard. The key consideration at this year’s meeting is whether to define both categories of follow-up formula as breast-milk substitutes. In doing so, follow-up formula would fall under the same marketing guidelines as…
Helen Keller International welcomes the new guidance on healthy beverage consumption for young children just issued by a coalition of health experts led by the Healthy Eating Research group. The warnings of the negative effects of sugar sweetened beverages on children’s nutritional status are evidence-based and provide valuable advice to parents who can be misled…
NEW EVIDENCE SUGGESTS HIGH CONSUMPTION OF UNHEALTHY SNACK FOOD PRODUCTS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO STUNTED GROWTH IN YOUNG CHILDREN In Nepal, unhealthy snack food and beverage products comprise nearly 25 percent of energy intake among children 12 to 23 months of age, new data shows. Washington, DC (16 July, 2019) –A new study published today by…
New research published by Helen Keller International’s Assessment and Research on Child Feeding (ARCH) Project in the scientific journal Maternal & Child Nutrition builds on previous findings on promotion and consumption of commercial foods and beverages among infants and young children. These papers illustrate the widespread promotion and high rates of consumption in Nepal, Cambodia,…
