BMJ 1996;312:1475 (8 June)

Letters

Government secrecy

Baby milk advertising is a case in point

EDITOR,--The government's recent decision not to ban advertising of infant formula milk products emphasises Martin McKee and Tim Lang's concern that public health policies may fall prey to interests of government and industry.1

Throughout the formation of the two European directives and draft proposals, the British government advocated that such advertising be restricted to professional and scientific journals alone. Last year, the decision to adopt a law allowing baby milks to be advertised in hospital in effect enables expansion of the baby milk market. Such brand name advertising contravenes the World Health Organisation's international code, which clearly states that breast milk substitutes should not be promoted. This code has been supported by the British government since 1981.

During the passage of this law the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food received 210 letters in favour of an advertising ban and 13 against, . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Secret government: the Scott report
Martin McKee
BMJ 1996 312: 455-456. [Extract] [Full Text]

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