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#WorldBreastfeedingWeek – Promoting formula milk is illegal in South Africa – here’s why!

───   09:09 Tue, 03 Aug 2021

#WorldBreastfeedingWeek – Promoting formula milk is illegal in South Africa – here’s why! | News Article

Dr. Chantell Witten joins Mid-Morning Magic's Yolanda Maartens to talk about this. Listen to the podcast below.

Dr. Chantell Witten is a lecturer at the University of the Free State: Faculty of Health Sciences, Division: Health Sciences Education.

READ ALSO: Support breastfeeding in the workplace

Witten, who is Nutritional Lead at SACSOWACH, joins Yolanda Maartens to talk about the International Code, which regulates and prohibits promotional practices in respect of infant and follow-up formulae,  infant or follow-up formulae for special dietary or medical purposes; liquid milk, powdered milk, modified powdered milk, or powdered drinks marketed or otherwise represented as suitable for infants or young children; feeding bottles, teats and feeding cups with spouts, straws or teats; or any other products in this regard.

In the podcast below, she unpacks the international code, what the difference is between the International Code and the SA Regulations, R991. She also dissects how these legal instruments protect and support breastfeeding and how ordinary members of the public can report violations of the regulations.

READ ALSO: Breastfeeding is a shared responsibility

According to Dr. Witten, if we are to protect breastfeeding as a shared responsibility, we need to support women and create an enabling environment for women to optimally breastfeed their infants. We also need interventions that address the barriers for women to practice their mothering roles. 

You can read the full article here:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-07-29-mothers-need-help-and-support-if-they-are-to-breastfeed-their-babies-for-an-optimal-time/

Read more about the issue of donating formula milk during Covid 19 or other times of crises: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-07-20-donations-of-free-infant-formula-are-not-ideal-for-everyone/

This article is particularly relevant considering the recent unrest and riots in South Arica that called for individuals to donate formula milk instead of focusing on breastfeeding and access to breastmilk banks through the SA Breastmilk Reserve.


Podcasts

#WorldBreastfeedingWeek – It is illegal to promote formula milk in South Africa – here’s why!:

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