Investigating unhealthy snack foods and beverage consumption and their association with dietary adequacy Activities Develop and test monitoring mechanisms to assist the Cambodian government in enforcing national policies which regulate the marketing of breastmilk substitutes Provide technical support for the development of tools and communications materials for government stakeholders to support optimal breastfeeding practices Conduct…
This week, we join countries and communities around the world in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7, 2016). The ARCH team collaborates with partners in empowering women to breastfeed and provide their children with the healthiest start in life—not only with a range of activities this week, but throughout the year. This year’s theme focuses…
The scientific community has long touted the tremendous benefits of breastfeeding. Recent estimates show that over 800,000 child lives and 20,000 maternal lives could be saved each year if every mother were to optimally breastfeed her baby. Often it is economically vulnerable women who struggle with breastfeeding. In high-income countries, serious disparities exist: wealthier, better-educated…
Aggressive marketing of infant formula in health facilities discourages breastfeeding. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the Code) prohibits any type of promotion of breast-milk substitutes (BMS) in health facilities. The Code calls on health workers to protect parents from predatory BMS industry marketing practices and has specific provisions for health workers on…
Breastmilk is the gold standard for infant and young child feeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and continue to receive breastmilk up to two years of age or beyond. Yet, the proliferation of varying breastmilk substitutes, including follow-up formula, increasingly undermines exclusive…
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…
The Child Health Division of Nepal’s Ministry of Health (MOH) organized a national seminar on nutrition, and participants formulated a 10-Point-Commitment which supports the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and encourages providing quality nutrition services at the district level.
Nepal is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week with the theme “Breastfeeding: A key to Sustainable Development.” The Ministry of Health has organized several activities that focus on the need to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. To support these initiatives, the Nepal ARCH team is co-organizing various events at 10 major hospitals, which cover 90% of births…
From 2012-2023, ARCH worked to strengthen policies that promote optimal infant and young child nutrition. Helen Keller International’s Assessment & Research on Child Feeding (ARCH) Project explored the marketing of commercial foods and diets of young children in rapidly evolving food environments. Our research has contributed to global discussions on implementation of the World Health…
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…
