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30 Years of Defending Breastfeeding:

IBFAN turns 30

By Ashley Bunting Seeber

the John Knox Centre to feeding.
form an advocacy network
and
other
on this issue; among them Nestle
were the Interfaith Centre companies promote breast-
milk substitutes through
Corporate
on
Responsibility, the Infant health workers or adverti-
Formula Action Coalition, sing that exploits mothers'
OXFAM, War on Want, concerns for their children.
and the Declaration de Mothers are told these pro-
Berne. ducts are better than
breastmilk, adding impor-
At the thirtieth anniversary tant nutrients or contribu-
celebration, it was also ting to greater intelligence.
revealed that Ross These women, eager to do
Mountain, then working in what's best for their
the UN NGO Liaison infants, hand over increa-
Office, was indispensable sing portions of their inco-
at that meeting. Andrew mes for an expensive coun-
Chetley recalled the terfeit of their own perfect-
history of IBFAN's forma- ly nutritious milk Perhaps
tion: "Ross walked into the most important of all,
room and said, 'This is not breastmilk contains the
a meeting, we are not immune agents that com-
having this conversation, pensate for a new-born's
and I am not here." still inadequate immune
Mountain then proceeded system and that play a
to explain to the group how major role in keeping the
they as a new NGO needed child healthy. No human-
to work within the UN made product, whatever its
The emotion was palpable of the late Senator Ted system to affect change, nutritive content, can
in the room as veterans of Kennedy who, in 1978, insider's advice that replace these immune
the struggle to promote held US Senate hearings IBFAN was eager to hear agents.
shared
on the topic, leading to a
breastfeeding and follow through on.
stories from the front lines. joint WHO/UNICEF Healthcare workers, for
For 30 years now, IBFAN meeting the following Since then, IBFAN has their part, are often given
(the International Baby year. The meeting called become one of the longest- samples of formula to give
Food Action Network) has for the formation of an surviving
to new mothers or are
single-issue
taken on the toughest international code, and by organizations, compiling given free "informational
challenges in enforcing 1981 the Code had been reports
materials to display or dis-
on
Code
compliance with the written and adopted by the compliance, organizing tribute that feature logos of
International Code of World Health Assembly. It against those who don't formula companies.
Marketing of Breastmilk calls on States to promote comply, and promoting
Substitutes. breastfeeding and sets breastfeeding. IBFAN is Nestlé responds to these
advertising standards for perhaps most famous for charges by saying that
During the 1970's, several formula, bottles and teats its role in the longest- IBFAN has mischaracteri-
organizations noticed the so as to not undermine running (launched in 1977) zed its marketing and even
connection between infant those efforts. and most expensive (to the Code itself. It insists
formula and malnutrition, industry) boycott in that materials given to
particularly for infants in While in Geneva for that history, that of Nestlé, for healthcare workers are to
developing countries. The joint WHO/UNICEF mee- its marketing strategies promote infant health and
issue caught the attention ting, several NGOs met at that undermine breast- are not in violation of the

26 4 2009 Diva

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