Violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in Mexico

Overview

Journal Matern Child Nutr

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Nutritional Sciences

Date 2018 Sep 1

PMID 30168899

Citations 31

Authors

Sonia Hernandez-Cordero

Ana Lilia Lozada-Tequeanes

Teresa Shamah-Levy

Chessa Lutter

Teresita Gonzalez de Cosio

Pedro Saturno-Hernandez

Juan Rivera Dommarco

Laurence Grummer-Strawn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study estimated the prevalence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) and subsequent resolutions of the World Health Assembly (Code) at health facilities, points of sale (POS), and on BMS labelling and media in Mexico. We carried out a cross-sectional survey among 693 mothers with children aged less than 24 months and 48 health providers at public and private health facilities in two states of Mexico. Observational assessment at 20 POS and the health facilities was conducted as well as an analysis of labels on BMS products for sale. Women attending public and private health facilities reported receiving free BMS samples in the previous 6 months (11.1%), and about 80% reported seeing BMS promotion in the mass media. Health providers reported contact with BMS manufacturer representatives in the previous 6 months (15.5%), and only 41.6% of the health providers had knowledge of the Code. BMS promotions were identified at nearly all POS. Analysis of 190 BMS labels showed that 30% included pictures/text idealizing the use of BMS, and all labels incorporated health and nutrition claims. Violations of the Code are prevalent within the health services, POS, and labelling of BMS products. The high percentage of health providers with no knowledge of the Code calls for action at national level to better disseminate and comply with the Code. A transparent, free from commercial influence, and continual monitoring system for Code compliance is needed, including a follow-up component on sanctions for contraventions of the Code.

Citing Articles

Commercial milk formula marketing entry points: setting the course of infant and young child feeding trajectories.

Vilar-Compte M, Hernandez-Cordero S, Perez-Escamilla R, Tomori C BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):2653.

PMID: 39342250 PMC: 11438275. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19997-3.

Outcomes of implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes as national laws: a systematic review.

Topothai C, Cetthakrikul N, Howard N, Tangcharoensathien V, Chong M, van der Eijk Y Int Breastfeed J. 2024; 19(1):68.

PMID: 39334400 PMC: 11438049. DOI: 10.1186/s13006-024-00676-3.

Healthcare professionals and commercial milk formula recommendations in the urban Mexican context.

Hernandez-Cordero S, Vilar-Compte M, Tomori C, Lara-Mejia V, Rovelo-Velazquez N, Hayes K Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1260222.

PMID: 38045970 PMC: 10693414. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1260222.

Commercial milk formula marketing following increased restrictions in Singapore: A qualitative study.

Topothai C, Tan G, van der Eijk Y Matern Child Nutr. 2023; 20(1):e13562.

PMID: 37667980 PMC: 10750007. DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13562.

Digital marketing of commercial breastmilk substitutes and baby foods: strategies, and recommendations for its regulation in Mexico.

Mota-Castillo P, Unar-Munguia M, Santos-Guzman A, Ceballos-Rasgado M, Tolentino-Mayo L, Barquera S Global Health. 2023; 19(1):8.

PMID: 36726118 PMC: 9890409. DOI: 10.1186/s12992-023-00908-x.

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