1. Introduction:
The World Health Organization and UNICEF have for many years emphasized the importance of
maintaining the practice of breastfeeding, and of reviving the practice where it is in decline, as a
way to improve the health and nutrition of infants and young children. A variety of factors
influence the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding. The right of every child and every
pregnant and lactating woman to be adequately nourished as a means of attaining and
maintaining health. Infant malnutrition is part of the wider problems of lack of education,
poverty, and social injustice. The health of infants and young children cannot be isolated from
the health and nutrition of women, their socio-economic status and their roles as mothers.
Conscious that breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth
and development of infants; that it forms a unique biological and emotional basis for the health
of both mother and child; that the anti-infective properties of breast milk help to protect infants
against disease; and that there is an important relationship between breastfeeding and child. the
encouragement and protection of breastfeeding is an important part of the health, nutrition and
other social measures required to promote healthy growth and development of infants and young
children; and that breastfeeding is an important aspect of primary health care. Considering that
when mothers do not breastfeed, or only do so partially, there is a legitimate market for infant
formula and for suitable ingredients from which to prepare it; that all these products should
accordingly be made accessible to those who need them through commercial or noncommercial
distribution systems; and that they should not be marketed or distributed in ways that may
interfere with the protection and promotion of breastfeeding. that inappropriate feeding practices
lead to infant malnutrition, morbidity and mortality in all countries, and that improper practices
in the marketing of breast milk substitutes and related products can contribute to these major
public health problems. Convinced that it is important for infants to receive appropriate
complementary foods, usually when the infant reaches four to six months of age, and that every
effort should be made to use locally available foods; and convinced, nevertheless, that such
complementary foods should not be used as breast milk substitutes. Appreciating that there are a
number of social and economic factors affecting breastfeeding, and that, accordingly,
governments should develop social support systems to protect, facilitate and encourage it, and
that they should create an environment that fosters breastfeeding, provides appropriate family
and community support, and protects mothers from factors that inhibit breastfeeding. Affirming

2. that health care systems, and the health professionals and other health workers serving in them,
have an essential role to play in guiding infant feeding practices, encouraging and facilitating
breastfeeding, and providing objective and consistent advice to mothers and families about the
superior value of breastfeeding, or, where needed, on the proper use of infant formula, whether
manufactured industrially or home prepared. Educational systems and other social services
should be involved in the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and in the appropriate use
of complementary foods. Aware that families, communities, women's organizations and other
nongovernmental organizations have a special role to play in the protection and promotion of
breastfeeding and in ensuring the support needed by pregnant women and mothers of infants and
young children, whether breastfeeding or no. The need for governments, organizations of the
United Nations system, nongovernmental organizations, and experts in various related
disciplines, consumer groups and industry to cooperate in activities aimed at the improvement of
maternal, infant and young child health and nutrition. Governments should undertake a variety of
health, nutrition and other social measures to promote healthy growth and development of infants
and young children, and that this Code concerns only one aspect of these measures.
Manufacturers and distributors of breast milk substitutes have an important and constructive role
to play in relation to infant feeding, and in the promotion of the aim of this Code and its proper
implementation. Governments are called upon to take action appropriate to their social and
legislative framework and their overall development objectives to give effect to the principles
and aim of this Code, including the enactment of legislation, regulations or other suitable
measures. Believing that, in the light of the foregoing considerations, and in view of the
vulnerability of infants in the early months of life and the risks involved in inappropriate feeding
practices, including the unnecessary and improper use of breast milk substitutes, the marketing
of breast milk substitutes requires special treatment, which makes usual marketing practices
unsuitable for these products.

3. International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk:
Breastfeeding has a range of well-recognized benefits to both mother and child. Recognizing the
benefits and observing that rates and duration of breastfeeding have historically been lower than
ideal, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children‘s Fund (UNICEF)
convened a landmark meeting on infant and young child feeding with representatives of
governments, agencies of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the
infant-food industry, and experts in related discipline.
The aim of this Code is to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition
for infants, by the protection and promotion of breast-feeding, and by ensuring the proper use of
breast-milk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and
through appropriate marketing and distribution and to shield breastfeeding from commercial
promotion that affects mothers, health workers and health care systems. The Code and
resolutions also contain specific provisions and recommendations relating to labeling of infant
formula and other breast milk substitutes. This code is basically under the International health
policy framework for breastfeeding promotion adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA)
of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981. The Code was developed as a global public
health strategy and recommends restrictions on the marketing of breast milk substitutes, such as
infant formula, to ensure that mothers are not discouraged from breastfeeding and that substitutes
are used safely if needed. The Code also covers ethical considerations and regulations for the
marketing of feeding bottles and teats. A number of subsequent WHA resolutions have further
clarified or extended certain provisions of the Code.
Key points:
Baby food companies may not:
 promote their products in hospitals, shops or to the general public
 give free samples to mothers or free or subsidised supplies to hospitals or maternity
wards

4.  give gifts to health workers or mothers
 promote their products to health workers: any information provided by companies must
contain only scientific and factual matters
 promote foods or drinks for babies
 give misleading information
 There should be no contact between baby milk company sales personnel and mothers.
 Labels must be in a language understood by the mother and must include a clear health
warning.
 Baby pictures may not be shown on baby milk labels.
 The labels mus not include language which idealises the use of the product.
MONITORING METHODOLOGY
To evaluate compliance with the provisions of the International Code of Marketing
of Breast milk Substitutes. In global terms, the monitoring exercise aims to collect
information to help develop methods to avoid commercial interference in medical issues and
To protect breastfeeding. Here IC stands for ‗the code‘.
• To evaluate compliance with the IC in health care facilities;
• To investigate manufacturers' compliance with IC requirements in retail and sales activity;
• To analyze whether labels on artificial baby food products available.
Market meet IC requirements in terms of aesthetic and content design;
• To evaluate IC compliance by particular companies involved in the production or
Distribution of artificial infant feeding products;
• To analyze manufacturers' information materials distributed among health workers and

5. the general public as to their compliance with IC requirements on aesthetic and content designee.
Controversies about Baby Food
Let start with an example about ―the controversy about baby food‖
―A Jamaican woman brought her two babies to Alan Jackson's clinic at the University of the
West Indies in Kingston; the pediatrician was shocked by their condition. Her 4-month-old son
weighed only five pounds - two less than at birth - and her daughter was in even worse shape. At
18 months, she weighed only 12 pounds, and soon lost four more. When Dr. Jackson questioned
the woman, who had 10 other children, he discovered that she had never breast-fed her two
youngest. She had been feeding baby food for her child.‖ This story provides us a clear
indication that baby food is not a good choice for a baby‘s health.
Biggest controversy about baby food occurred in 1977 and the biggest brand name Nestlé were
related with that controversy. That is fame as “Nestlé boycott”.
“Nestlé boycot”
A boycott was launched in the United States on July 7, 1977, against the Swiss-based Nestlé
corporation. It spread in the United States, and expanded into Europe in the early 1980s. It was
prompted by concern about Nestlé's "aggressive marketing" of breast milk substitutes,
particularly in less economically developed countries (LEDCs), which campaigners claim
contributes to the unnecessary suffering and deaths of babies, largely among the poor. Among
the campaigners, Professor Derek Jelliffe and his wife Patrice, who contributed to establish the
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), were particularly instrumental in helping to
coordinate the boycott and giving it ample visibility worldwide.

6. Examples of baby fodd controvesry over few decade
Syntex Laboratories Inc. and Syntex (USA) Inc.
In 1985, Syntex was ordered to pay $27 million in compensation for the deaths of two American
infants who suffered brain damage after drinking the company's baby formula, called Neo-mullsoy. The boys suffered extensive weight loss through dehydration because the formula didn`t
contain the salt necessary for their development, and the dehydration caused a chemical
imbalance that affected their brains Formulas produced by Syntex had previously been subject to
a major recall as they were found to have insufficient chloride to support normal infant growth
and development.
german company humana
In 2003, baby formula manufactured by the German company Humana and sold in Israel under
the brand Remedia caused the death of several infants and severe health problems in many
others. Investigation revealed that the formula contained a much lower quantity of Thiamine than
is needed for healthy infant development because of a manufacturing error.
Abbott Laboratories
In 2010, Abbott Laboratories issued a voluntary recall of about five million Similac brand
powder infant formulas that were sold in the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and some

7. Caribbean countries. The recall was issued after the presence of a 'small common beetle' was
detected in the product.
Soy-based formulae
In Canada, New Zealand and elsewhere, public concerns have been raised over the continued
sale and marketing of soy-based formulae potentially containing high levels of phytoestrogens,
linked to abnormal child development[84] including damage to babies' thyroid glands.
Wal-Mart
In December 2011 Wal-Mart recalled a quantity of infant formula after a baby died in Missouri.
"We extend our deepest condolences to this baby boy's family as they try to come to grips with
their loss," said Dianna Gee, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman. "As soon as we heard what happened,
we immediately reached out to the manufacturer of the formula and to the Department of Health
and Senior Services to provide any information we may have to help with the investigation."
Wal-Mart said it pulled a batch of Enfamil from its stores nationwide that matched the size and
lot number ZP1k7G of the formula that may have sickened the baby in Missouri, Gee said. The
baby formula was purchased from a Wal-Mart in Lebanon, Missouri. After the purchase, a 10day-old infant died from a rare bacterial infection, CNN affiliate KYTV reported. Authorities ran
tests to determine if the death came from the formula, the water to make the formula or any other
factor, said Mead Johnson Nutrition, the company that makes Enfamil. "We are highly confident
in the safety and quality of our products – and the rigorous testing we put them through," said
Chris Perille, a Mead Johnson Nutrition spokesman.
melamine in milk

8. one of rhe biggest incident about baby food occurred in 2008 in chaina. Baby food founded with
the involement of melamine. The 2008 Chinese milk scandal was a food safety incident in China,
involving milk and infant formula, and other food materials and components, adulterated with
melamine.
By November 2008, China reported an estimated 300,000 victims, with six infants dying from
kidney stones and other kidney damage, and an estimated 54,000 babies being hospitalised.The
chemical appeared to have been added to milk to cause it to appear to have a higher protein
content. In a separate incident four years before, watered-down milk had resulted in 13 infant
deaths from malnutrition.
The scandal broke on 16 July 2008, after sixteen infants in Gansu Province, who had been fed on
milk powder produced by Shijiazhuang-based Sanlu Group, were diagnosed with kidney stones.
After the initial focus on Sanlu—market leader in the budget segment—government inspections
revealed the problem existed to a lesser degree in products from 21 other companies, including
an Arla Foods-Mengniu joint venture company known as Arla Mengniu, Yili, and Yashili.
The issue raised concerns about food safety and political corruption in China, and damaged the
reputation of China's food exports, with at least 11 countries stopping all imports of Chinese
dairy products.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Marketing_of_Breast-milk_Substitutes
we found out the over view of international code of marketting breast milk.
http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/9241541601/en/
http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_24805.html

9. http://www.babymilkaction.org/regs/thecode.html
http://www.babymilkaction.org/regs/res3422.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/magazine/the-controversy-over-infant-formula.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott
http://newint.org/columns/applause/2010/10/01/nestle-baby-milk-campaign/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_formula#Uses.2C_risks_and_controversies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal