Dataset Information

Assessment of the Composition of Breastmilk Substitutes, Commercial Complementary Foods, and Commercial Snack Products Commonly Fed to Infant and Young Children in Lebanon: A Call to Action.

ABSTRACT: (1) Background: Nutrition for optimum growth and physical development is acquired by adequate infant feeding practices. (2) Methods: One hundred seventeen different brands of infant formulas (n = 41) and baby food products (n = 76) were selected from the Lebanese market and were analyzed for their nutritional content. (3) Results: Saturated fatty acid content was detected to be the highest in follow-up formulas (79.85 g/100 g) and milky cereals (75.38 g/100 g). Among all saturated fatty acids, palmitic acid (C16:0) accounted for the greatest proportion. Moreover, glucose and sucrose were the predominant added sugars in infant formulas, while sucrose was the main added sugar in baby food products. Our data showed that the majority of the products were non-compliant to the regulations and the manufacturers' nutrition facts labels. Our results stated also that the contribution to the daily value for the saturated fatty acids, added sugars, and protein exceeded the daily recommended intake for most infant formulas and baby food products. (4) Conclusions: This requires careful evaluation from policymakers in order to improve the infant and young children feeding practices.

SUBMITTER: Hoteit M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10005724 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Assessment of the Composition of Breastmilk Substitutes, Commercial Complementary Foods, and Commercial Snack Products Commonly Fed to Infant and Young Children in Lebanon: A Call to Action.

Hoteit Maha M Ibrahim Carla C Nohra Joanna J Sacre Yonna Y Hanna-Wakim Lara L Al-Jawaldeh Ayoub A

Nutrients 20230227 5

(1) Background: Nutrition for optimum growth and physical development is acquired by adequate infant feeding practices. (2) Methods: One hundred seventeen different brands of infant formulas (n = 41) and baby food products (n = 76) were selected from the Lebanese market and were analyzed for their nutritional content. (3) Results: Saturated fatty acid content was detected to be the highest in follow-up formulas (79.85 g/100 g) and milky cereals (75.38 g/100 g). Among all saturated fatty acids, p ...[more]

PMID: 36904200

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Project description:BackgroundParents are exposed to breastmilk substitutes and baby foods marketing on the internet and social media, which hinders adequate breastfeeding and complementary feeding. This study identifies digital marketing strategies for breastmilk substitutes, specifically commercial milk formula and baby foods used by the industry to influence infant and young children's feeding practices in Mexico and proposes regulatory recommendations that can be useful for similar countries.MethodsQualitative study based on the CLICK monitoring framework developed by the World Health Organization, adapted for digital marketing of commercial milk formula and baby foods. Semi-structured interviews (n = 53) with key actors were conducted between November 2020 and March 2021, and used grounded theory for the analysis and interpretation with the MAXQDA 20 software.ResultsCommercial milk formula and baby food companies use digital media to contact and persuade parents to use their products by sending electronic newsletters with advertising. Companies hire influencers to market their products because there is no regulation prohibiting the advertisement of breastmilk substitutes on social media, and promote formula among health professionals inviting them to participate in sponsored webinars on infant nutrition, ignoring conflict of interest and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. Parents trust formula and baby food advertisements, which use emotional messages and health and nutrition claims to encourage their consumption. Health professionals consider that claims contribute to the indiscriminate use of formula, and some actors propose the use of plain packaging for these products.ConclusionsBreastmilk substitutes companies promote their products in digital media using unethical strategies that fail to comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. They generate strong conflicts of interest with health professionals, taking advantage of legal framework gaps and the lack of monitoring and effective sanctions for non-compliers. Updating the legal framework and monitoring compliance, including digital media, is urgently needed to protect children's right to breastfeeding, healthy nutrition and life, and the rights of women to health and informed decision-making.

Project description:Breastfeeding is one of the foundations of child health, development and survival. Breastmilk substitutes (BMS) are associated with negative influences on breastfeeding practices and subsequent health concerns and, as with all foods, production and consumption of BMS comes with an environmental cost. The carbon footprint (CFP) of production and consumption of BMS was estimated in this study. To illustrate regional differences among the largest producers and consumers, the CFP of BMS production in New Zealand, United States (USA), Brazil and France and the CFP of BMS consumption in United Kingdom (UK), China, Brazil and Vietnam were assessed. The CFP values were then compared with the CFP of breastfeeding arising from production of the additional food needed for breastfeeding mothers to maintain energy balance (approximately 500 kcal per day). The CFP of production was estimated to be 9.2 ± 1.4, 7.0 ± 1.0, 11 ± 2 and 8.4 ± 1.3 kg CO2e per kg BMS in New Zealand, USA, Brazil and France, respectively, with the largest contribution (68-82% of the total) coming from production of raw milk. The CFP of consumption, which included BMS production, emissions from transport, production and in-home sterilisation of bottles, and preparation of BMS, was estimated to be 11 ± 1, 14 ± 2, 14 ± 2 and 11 ± 1 kg CO2e per kg BMS in UK, China, Brazil and Vietnam, respectively. Comparison of breastfeeding with feeding BMS showed a lower CFP from breastfeeding in all countries studied. However, the results were sensitive to the method used to allocate emissions from raw milk production on different dairy processing co-products (i.e. BMS, cream, cheese and lactose). Using alternative allocation methods still resulted in lower CFP from breastfeeding, but only slightly for UK, Brazil and Vietnam. Care is also needed when interpreting findings about products that are functionally different as regards child health and development.

Project description:BackgroundAggressive and unregulated marketing of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) results in increased child morbidity and mortality. Unregulated BMS marketing is a major public health concern because it encourages formula consumption at the expense of breastfeeding. This study aimed to identify the sources and characterize the nature of exposure to marketing of BMS among Mexican mothers of children under 18 months of age. As a secondary objective we explored potential association between exposure to BMS marketing and infant feeding practices.MethodsCross-sectional study, comprising a pre-piloted survey, was conducted between February 2020 to February 2021 with Mexican mothers of children under 18 months of age (n = 754), in two major cities in Mexico. Mothers were selected according to their current infant feeding practices (Breastfeeding only vs. Mixed feeding). We characterized the different BMS marketing sources and scope, and related them with infant feeding practices. In addition, we used logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratio for infant feeding practices by BMS marketing exposure or recommendation.ResultsMothers reported different sources of exposure to BMS promotion, including BMS advertisements in diverse media channels (41.6%), recommendation by a healthcare professional and/or relative (76.2%), and receiving a BMS sample at a hospital (18.6%). By contrast, only 36.5% recalled hearing or seeing breastfeeding information the previous year. The odds of mixed feeding were substantially higher, compared to breastfeeding, when mothers were recommended to use a BMS by doctors/pediatricians (OR: 3.96, 95% CI: 2.00, 7.83). Having seen or heard breastfeeding information in the previous year was associated with a lower risk of mixed feeding compared to breastfeeding only (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.99).ConclusionsMexican mothers of young children in the metropolitan areas studied were highly exposed to BMS marketing and through different mass media channels and inter-personal sources. Health care professionals, particularly doctors/pediatricians, are a source of BMS promotion that are likely to have a strong influence on maternal decisions about infant feeding practices. There is an urgent need to protect mothers and their families against unregulated BMS promotion through mass media channels and directly by influential individuals, including health care providers.

Dataset Information

Assessment of the Composition of Breastmilk Substitutes, Commercial Complementary Foods, and Commercial Snack Products Commonly Fed to Infant and Young Children in Lebanon: A Call to Action.

Publications

Assessment of the Composition of Breastmilk Substitutes, Commercial Complementary Foods, and Commercial Snack Products Commonly Fed to Infant and Young Children in Lebanon: A Call to Action.

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