Formula milk industry “misuses and distorts” information to manipulate parents, says report

Formula milk companies have used manipulative marketing tactics to exploit parents’ anxieties and undermine their confidence in breastfeeding, says a damning report commissioned by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).1

The report assessed the influence of formula companies over two years in eight countries: Bangladesh, China, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, the UK, and Vietnam. It included feedback from more than 8500 pregnant women and mothers, 300 health professionals, and partners, family members, and friends.

“Across all eight countries, marketing practises actively seek to influence women’s and families’ infant and young child feeding decisions,” the report said. “Many women express the desire to breastfeed, yet a sustained flow of strategic and persuasive marketing messages undermines their confidence in breastfeeding and in themselves.”

It found that relationships of trust …