TABLE 3.

International Code of Marketing Breast-milk Substitutes (35)

No advertising of products to the public under the scope of the Code.

No free samples to be given to mothers.

No promotion of products in health care facilities.

No company representatives to advise women.

No gifts or personal samples to be given to health care workers.

No words or pictures idealizing artificial feeding, including pictures of infants, on the labels of products.

Information to health workers should be scientific and factual.

All information on artificial feeding, including that contained in product labels, should explain the benefits of breastfeeding and the costs and hazards associated with artificial feeding.

Unsuitable products, such as sweetened condensed milk, should not be promoted for babies.

All products should be of high quality and take account of the climatic and storage conditions of the country where they are used.

Promote and support exclusive breastfeeding for six months as a global public health recommendation with continued breastfeeding for up to two years of age or beyond.

Foster appropriate complementary feeding from the age of six months, recognizing that any food or drink given before it is nutritionally required may interfere with breastfeeding.

Complementary foods are not to be marketed in ways that undermine exclusive and sustained breastfeeding.

Financial assistance from the infant feeding industry may interfere with professionals’ unequivocal support for breastfeeding.