Formula milk 'not against breast-feeding'<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Infant formula producers denied allegations on Wednesday that
\nthey had exploited breast-feeding experts to promote their
\nproducts.<\/p>\n
\"Instead of taking advantage of these experts to promote our
\nproducts, we fully support the campaign for exclusive breast-
\nfeeding,\" Cecep Fathoni, the secretary-general of the Association
\nof Baby Food Producers (APMB), said.<\/p>\n
Cecep said that if infant formula producers invited experts or
\nprominent figures in the breast-feeding campaign to speak at any
\nseminar, it was part of their efforts to help the campaign
\nsucceed.<\/p>\n
According to a recommendation from the World Health
\nOrganization (WHO), babies should be breast-fed from birth to
\nfour months old at least, but Indonesia has yet to adopt the
\nrecommendation.<\/p>\n
Breast-feeding babies in their early months is crucial as it
\ngives them antibodies to fight childhood illness and other common
\ndiseases.<\/p>\n
\"Don't interpret the invitation as a form of exploitation
\nbecause our objective is the same -- supporting the breast-
\nfeeding campaign,\" Cecep told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Cecep made the remarks after consumer protection activists
\naccused the infant formula producers of approaching experts as
\npart of a hidden campaign to promote their products.<\/p>\n
The accusation was made due to a declining rate in exclusive
\nbreast-feeding in Indonesia following aggressive marketing of
\ninfant formula products in hospitals and other health care
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
This is against the International Code of Marketing Breast
\nMilk Substitute from the World Health Organization and is in
\nviolation of government regulations, the activists said.<\/p>\n
Indah Suksmaningsih, the chairwoman of the Indonesian
\nConsumers Foundation (YLKI), said the infant formula producers
\nmight have run out of ideas for promoting their products.<\/p>\n
\"We suspect that they are initiating a new strategy to promote
\ntheir products,\" Indah said at a media briefing at St. Carolus
\nHospital on Monday.<\/p>\n
Indah's comments were made in response to a complaint made by
\nUtami Roesli, a physician at St. Carolus Hospital and an active
\ncampaigner of exclusive breast-feeding, about an advertisement in
\na mother-child health care tabloid which said she was scheduled
\nto appear at a seminar on breast-feeding that was sponsored by an
\ninfant formula producer.<\/p>\n
As a supporter of the breast-feeding campaign, she refuses to
\nappear at seminars sponsored by infant formula producers.<\/p>\n
St. Carolus Hospital has also refused to distribute infant
\nformula to new mothers staying at the hospital.<\/p>\n
\"Not one infant formula producer can approach us. The
\nadvertisement makes it look as if we have softened our stance and
\ncan be bought,\" Utami said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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