Well, here's a benefit of reading Lactnet a week late.

By the time I checked out Magda's rapid reply on the BMJ website, there was a
second rapid reply, sent from the Secretary General of IFM. "IFM" was never
further identified in this letter, although he did say it is "the industry
association representing manufacturers of foods for infants and young
children."  You can learn more about the group, the International Association
of Infant Food Manufacturers, on its website,
http://www.ifm.net/.

The IFM writer did not, as Magda did, provide references.

He did not, as Magda did, declare a potential conflict of interest.

He did not make a concrete suggestion, as Magda did when she called on the UK
government to adopt the WHO's Global Strategy on Infant & Young Child
Feeding.

Basically he said what's on the IFM website. "...Who....Us?  We follow the
Code. Take our word for it. Don't listen to anybody else."

I find IFM's position interesting. They claim that the Code does not cover
complementary foods and juices. Strictly speaking...the *Code* does not,
although it does mention "the appropriate use of complementary foods" in the
preamble. However, subsequent WHA resolutions *do* cover complementary foods,
and those resolutions have the same legal status as the Code. When
complementary foods are given "before complementary feeding is nutritionally
required"--which has now been defined as before six months-- they are
replacing human milk, and thus they are being used as a breastmilk substitute.

IFM also complains because NGOs have been monitoring--often this is done in
the absence of effective government legal mechanisms for monitoring. However,
the Code in Article 11.4 says that NGOs should draw the attention of
manufacturers and governments to "activities which are incompatible with the
principles and aim of this Code, so that appropriate action can be taken."
But then when NGOs do publish the findings of their monitoring, IFM complains.

Magda, I'm so happy that your letter is there, and that it is the first one
that arrived.

Chris Mulford, RN, IBCLC
working for WIC in New Jersey
Co-coordinator, WABA Women & Work Task Force




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