Formula Companies/WHO code violations

[lacysmommy]

Please list the ways that the formula companies violate the WHO code of marketing breastmilk substitutes. If possible provide documented cases of recent WHO code violations. The reason I ask is it looks like in order for formula companies to be the formula provider for WIC, they have to follow the WHO code. The contract isn't up for rebid (I work with my state government's contracts, and we do some multi-state, including the formula contract), but it will be in 2 or 3 years. The breastpump contract is currently being rebid, and all bidders have to follow the WHO code or they may be rejected. That language wasn't in the old bid, nor was it in the formula bid document. I suspect when formula comes up for rebid (the earliest is 2006, latest is 2007, in August or September I think) the formula bid will have this language as well. After all, it's in the pump bid, so it would have to be in the formula bid, right?

I really hope I don't work at this job when it comes up for rebid. I will probably have contact with formula company executives/marketing directors during that time (it is a HUGE contract) and I couldn't be around them without doing something that would cause me to lose my job. Hopefully I won't be working directly with this contract at that time, so I'll have a little bit of distance from it.

If I'm still working there, I will make sure you all know what is happening with the rebid process so action can be taken if a WHO violater is the winner of the contract. Obviously I wouldn't be able to do those things myself. If I'm not working there, I know how to find what's happening and I will do everything in my power to make sure the winning bidder follows the code, and that my office is aware of WHO violations of anyone trying to win the bid.

So, let's get a list started so that we have documentation... links, news articles, anything you think might prove repeted WHO code violations in recent years (the newer, the better), so that formula companies will be forced to shape up or kicked out of the next formula contract!

[Momtwice]

http://www.ibfan.org/english/resource/who/fullcode.html

Here is just one section:

There should be no advertising or other form of promotion to the general public of products within the scope of this Code.


5.2 Manufacturers and distributors should not provide, directly or indirectly, to pregnant women, mothers or members of their families, samples of products within the scope of this Code.


5.3 In conformity with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, there should be no point-of-sale advertising, giving of samples, or any other promotion device to induce sales directly to the consumer at the retail level, such as special displays, discount coupons, premiums, special sales, loss leaders and tie-in sales, for products within the scope of this Code. This provision should not restrict the establishment of pricing policies and practices intended to provide products at lower prices on a long-term basis.


5.4 Manufacturers and distributors should not distribute to pregnant women or mothers of infants and young children any gifts of articles or utensils which may promote the use of breastmilk substitutes or bottle feeding.


5.5 Marketing personnel, in their business capacity, should not seek direct or indirect contact of any kind with pregnant women or with mothers of infants and young children.

Things that go against the WHO Code:

Advertising formula on TV or in magazines (just turn on a TV or pick up a copy of any mainstream baby magazine)

mailing samples to new mothers (Just do a search, there has been at least one thread with moms complaining about this)

don't forget the web...most companies have a website, and if they send out a newsletter that could violate it too

Is there a single American baby formula manufacturer who DOESN'T violate the WHO Code?

[hubris]

Originally Posted by Momtwice

[url]Is there a single American baby formula manufacturer who DOESN'T violate the WHO Code?

My thoughts exactly. They all advertise on TV, in magazines, with promotional materials in physicians' offices, through pamphlets stuffed in your bag at maternity stores, via junk mail, coupons sent to pregnant women, ads on bulletin boards, etc etc etc. When I was pg with Griffin I received at least four or five big ol' cans of powdered formula through the mail before he was even born, and more after that. Similac and Enfamil both give out tons of samples through the mail, in physicians' offices, and at hospitals.

Good for WIC if they're really changing the language in their contracts to require WHO code compliance. It's time to put the screws on the formula companies.

[Sarah]

Carolyn- Check with NABA- they have a really wonderful report published- called "Selling Out Mothers and Babies" it's like A thick magazine. It has info on the who code, all the addendums and the report on the monitoring project. The book contains very clear photos and examples of the violations. http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/resources.htm

I don't know of a compliant company out there... but that does not mean that they can't configure their products and information to be compliant within the WIC program. WIC might have a much easier time getting/ finding a pump manufacturer to be compliant than they would of finding a formula maker... I think (not 100% sure on this) the only trick with compliant pumps is that they don't have feeding nipples included in the box, or pictures of feeding bottles on the package.

Love Sarah