Advertising formula milk illegal â€" govt
Aug 03, 2009
THE Ministry of Health has warned manufacturers of formula milk against advertising.
By Irene Nabusoba, Juliet Waiswa and Halima Shaban
THE Ministry of Health has warned manufacturers of formula milk against advertising.
Offenders risk imprisonment for up to two years, heavy fines or a ban of their products.
Tabley Bakyaita, a food fortification programme official, said the promotion of products that substitute breast milk such as infant formula, cereals and juices was discouraging mothers from breastfeeding.
“The international code of marketing breast milk substitutes stipulates that there should be no promotion of breast milk substitutes, bottles and teats,†he said.
“Advertising could be in the form of printing pictures of healthy babies on the formula milk tins and providing free samples to mothers. We also demand that the manufacturers indicate that breastfeeding is the best food for babies on their packaging.â€
Bakyaita was on Friday briefing journalists at Hotel Africana in Kampala about the annual breastfeeding week that began on Saturday and runs till Friday. The breastfeeding week, which started in 1992, is observed globally.
Bakyaita said emergency conditions, including poverty, food scarcity, natural disasters, climate changes and conflict contribute to infant malnutrition, which contributes to over 50% of infant deaths.
“Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is important for infant nutrition and health in emergencies because it is safe, acceptable and affordable. After that, safe and adequate complementary food should be introduced with continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.â€
Samali Namukose, a senior nutritionist, advised that mothers be counselled and supported to breast feed.
THE Ministry of Health has warned manufacturers of formula milk against advertising.
Offenders risk imprisonment for up to two years, heavy fines or a ban of their products.
Tabley Bakyaita, a food fortification programme official, said the promotion of products that substitute breast milk such as infant formula, cereals and juices was discouraging mothers from breastfeeding.
“The international code of marketing breast milk substitutes stipulates that there should be no promotion of breast milk substitutes, bottles and teats,†he said.
“Advertising could be in the form of printing pictures of healthy babies on the formula milk tins and providing free samples to mothers. We also demand that the manufacturers indicate that breastfeeding is the best food for babies on their packaging.â€
Bakyaita was on Friday briefing journalists at Hotel Africana in Kampala about the annual breastfeeding week that began on Saturday and runs till Friday. The breastfeeding week, which started in 1992, is observed globally.
Bakyaita said emergency conditions, including poverty, food scarcity, natural disasters, climate changes and conflict contribute to infant malnutrition, which contributes to over 50% of infant deaths.
“Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is important for infant nutrition and health in emergencies because it is safe, acceptable and affordable. After that, safe and adequate complementary food should be introduced with continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.â€
Samali Namukose, a senior nutritionist, advised that mothers be counselled and supported to breast feed.