It is not the code that has failed - it is society that has failed to outlaw
unethical marketing of formula.
Until the health authorities in every country put breastfeeding on the
agenda in terms of promotion and providing quality counselling round the
clock in maternity departments and well-baby clinics, breastfeeding
advocates cannot possibly compete with the millions of dollars spent on
marketing formula.
While the formula companies are allowed to promote their products through
their unethical practices, the Code and the Innocenti Declaration cannot be
implemented.
 While the ludicrous situation exists where a university professor, a
pediatrician can be paid by the Israel Dairy Board and have his conclusions
that cows milk should be given to babies for the first 15 days in order to
prevent later milk allergies published in a professional medical journal,
that the same professor can be paid by the USA Peanut Board and his
conclusions that early exposure to peanuts prevents later peanut allergy
could be published in the same professional journal, there is no hope that
professionals supporting breastfeeding can compete.
Who is going to fund the professional researchers to produce updated
articles on the benefits of breastfeeding?  Who is going to pay the journals
to publish them?  Who is going to provide hospital ICU`s with adequate
supplies and equipment so that they do not have to take donations from
formula companies?  Who is going to provide an adequate number of
breastfeeding counsellors to staff maternity departments and baby clinics
round the clock?
Just think how many of us as breastfeeding counsellors provide our services
unpaid to women in need or spend time unpaid advocating breastfeeding.
Any professional who promotes infant formula is paid handsomely!
No the Code has not failed.  But the WHO and the health authorities of the
individual countries that signed it have failed to implement it.  And so has
society which is so apathetic about it.

Wendy Blumfield
NCT Trained Tutor Prenatal Teacher/BFC
Israel Childbirth Education Centre

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