Over the past few months there have been several messages on Lactnet concerning the magazine and videos put out with ICEA's name on them. The concern then, and still is, with the violations of the WHO Code within these products. Many people have received another letter this week on ICEA stationary about the next magazine issue. Like you, we did not see it until it arrived in our mail boxes.
This material appears to have the approval of the entire present Board of Directors of ICEA. This is untrue. The majority of the present voting Board members are as upset about these violations as you have been. When we asked to see a copy of the contract concerning these issues, we were refused. We had requested it to go to a vote by the entire Board but there was never an actual vote taken. There are 7 voting members on ICEA's board. (The president doesn't vote, but does preside over all proceedings.) 5 of the 7 opposed the products that were produced by this contract, due to Code violations. We have been going around and around about this since May. We discussed all the philosophical issues, but it wasn't until a few days ago that we received a copy of an email which was sent by the president which states "Playtex was a MAJOR sponsor. They paid big bucks for advertising space in both products and also to be the exclusive bottle advertiser."
(ICEA's advertising guidelines are at the following web sites. They specifically state: "In keeping with its support of the World Health Organization Code for Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, ICEA will not
accept requests for materials/ads for infant formula, breast milk substitutes or complimentary foods, feeding bottles and nipples/teats. Exceptions will be made for breast pump accessories."
http://www.icea.org/advert.htm
The ICEA Position Paper on Infant Feeding is an adaptation, with permission, of the ILCA paper and states our support of breastfeeding and the WHO Code. (See introduction and articles # 39 and 40) This was voted on by the entire Board and accepted in April 1998
One of our long-time and valued Consultants has already resigned over this violation.
Keep in mind that ICEA is an international organization and as such, has members in many countries of the world. Likewise, the Code is an international document affecting more than just North America. We are concerned with all families and their babies, no matter where they might live.
For more information on the WHO code & breastfeeding:
http://www.gn.apc.org/ibfan/fullcode.html
http://www.infactcanada.ca/whocode/codeview.htm
http://www.tdh.texas.gov/lactate/whocode.htm
http://www.infactcanada.ca/whocode/innocent.htm
http://www.aap.org/policy/re9719.html
http://www.unicef.org/pon97/nutr1.htm
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/brfdbll.htm
http://www.gn.apc.org/ibfan/thecode.html
In order not to tie up Lactnet space from discussion on other vital issues we ask the following: If you have any comments about these WHO CODE violations, wish to volunteer your help, or to just give us your support, please contact either Barbara Kennedy at [log in to unmask]
and/or Debra Madonna at [log in to unmask]
If you want to reply directly to ICEA, the email is [log in to unmask] and the mailing address is: The President, ICEA, Box 20048, Minneapolis Minn 5420 Please also send Debra and/or I copies for our records. A complaint has been lodged with the Attorney General of the State of Minnesota and your support is appreciated.
If there is any information you need from either of us, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be working diligently on this issue up to and including December 31/99 as official members of the ICEA Board and afterwards as ICEA members. This issue is too vital to the women and families we have served for so long, to be thrown under the carpet and walked on by those who want to sell ICEA out to the artificial feeding industry.
Thank you.
FOR THE RECORD: WE SUPPORT THE WHO CODE.
Barbara Kennedy Debra Madonna ICCE COTA
RN, ICCE-ICD, CD(DONA), IBCLC ICEA Secretary
ICEA DIRECTOR of EDUCATION
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