LAUSR

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age and beyond (WHO, 2017a). The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolutions (the International Code) make up a global set of recommendations that was first published by the WHO in 1981 and that regulates the marketing of human milk substitutes, feeding bottles, and teats (WHO, 2017b). Since that time, a number of resolutions have been passed to expand the scope of the International Code. Following reports of the inappropriate promotion of “toddler milks” and commercial complementary foods (CCF), commonly known as “industrial baby foods,” in several countries, WHA Resolution 63.23 was adopted in 2010, recognizing specific marketing practices undermining progress in infant and young child feeding (“WHA63.14 Marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children,” 2010). Inappropriate promotion of CCF and toddler milks, for example, through food labels that do not provide adequate or complete messaging on exclusive and continued breastfeeding, has been reported in both wealthy and resource-poor countries (Pereira et al., 2016; Smith & Blake, 2013). WHA Resolution 69.9 was adopted in 2016 with the aim to ensure that families receive clear and accurate information on infant and young child feeding and to prevent obesity and other noncommunicable diseases through promotion of healthy diets in infancy and early childhood (WHO, 2016a). The resolution aims to achieve these important objectives through ending the inappropriate promotion of commercial nutrition products that are advertised in ways that aim to replace human milk in the diets of infants and young children (WHO, 2016a). Commercial nutrition products now covered under the International Code include infant formulas, “follow-up” or “follow-on” infant formulas, bottles, teats, bottlefed complementary foods (WHO, 2013a), “toddler milks” or “growing-up milks,” CCF, and beverages marketed for infants and young children up to 36 months of age (WHO, 2016a). In addition, commercial nutrition products should meet national and global standards for nutrient composition, safety, and quality (WHO, 2016b).