Infant Journal
for neonatal and paediatric healthcare professionals

Paediatricians call for dialogue with providers of breast milk substitutes

In the face of mounting pressure on the medical community to cut all ties with the providers of breast milk substitutes, Europe’s paediatricians call on the World Health Organization (WHO) to accept the need for interaction between healthcare professionals and providers of breast milk substitutes.

In an article published in Frontiers in Pediatrics1, the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) and six other European paediatrics associations call on the WHO to rethink a proposed ban on cooperation between the medical community and commercial providers of breast milk substitutes.

Adamos Hadjipanayis, President of EAP and co-author says: “We strongly support and promote breastfeeding due to its importance for child health; it gives children the best start in life. But breastfeeding is not always possible. And when that is case, we, the medical community, need to be able to advise parents and carers armed with the latest scientific knowledge. We cannot be informed without continuing to interact with the industry. Such communication can only be in the best interests of children.”

The article was written by the EAP, the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC), the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN), the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR), and the Paediatric Section of the European Society of Emergency Medicine (EUSEM).

The full article can be found at www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.562870/full

1. Bognar Z, et al. Promoting breastfeeding and interaction of pediatric associations with providers of nutritional products. Front Pediatr 2020;doi.org/10.3389/fped.2020.562870.

The associations strongly support and promote breastfeeding, whenever possible.


See our Supplier Guide:
ESPNIC - European Society of Paediatric & Neonatal Intensive Care