This after the World Health Organisation and UNICEF launched a campaign, “Babies before Bottom Lines”, sounding the alarm on what they say is false and unethical formula advertising.

The organisations have called on formula milk companies to stop presenting incomplete scientific evidence and inferring unsupported health outcomes.

UNICEF SA’s Nutrition Manager Gilbert Tshitaudzi says the pseudo-scientific health claims made by formula companies discourage mothers from breastfeeding, which should always be a first choice.

Tshitaudzi says breastfeeding is how mothers should feed their babies, however, emphasising that due to significant inappropriate marketing and promoting of formula milk, that has eroded.

“When you look at the nutrition situation of the children in South Africa, we’ve got high rates of children who are not growing well according to their age group. Meaning that their future is literally doomed. They’re not going to grow well; they’re not going to develop well. The main reason being that the foundation is not right,” Tshitaudzi says.

--SABC--