Marketing of commercial milk formula: a system to capture parents, communities, science, and policy

Despite proven benefits, less than half of infants and young children globally are breastfed in accordance with the recommendations of WHO. In comparison, commercial milk formula (CMF) sales have increased to about US$55 billion annually, with more infants and young children receiving formula products than ever. This Series paper describes the CMF marketing playbook and its influence on families, health professionals, science, and policy processes, drawing on national survey data, company reports, case studies, methodical scoping reviews, and two multicountry research studies. We report how CMF sales are driven by multifaceted, well resourced marketing strategies that portray CMF products, with little or no supporting evidence, as solutions to common infant health and developmental challenges in ways that systematically undermine breastfeeding. Digital platforms substantially extend the reach and influence of marketing while circumventing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Creating an enabling policy environment for breastfeeding that is free from commercial influence requires greater political commitment, financial investment, CMF industry transparency, and sustained advocacy. A framework convention on the commercial marketing of food products for infants and children is needed to end CMF marketing.

Automated summary

Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, less than half of infants and young children worldwide are breastfed according to the recommendations of WHO. Instead, there has been a significant increase in the sales of commercial milk formula (CMF), with more infants and young children receiving formula products. The marketing strategies of CMF, supported by little or no evidence, undermine breastfeeding by portraying CMF as a solution to common infant health and developmental challenges. Greater political commitment, financial investment, industry transparency, and advocacy are needed to create an enabling policy environment for breastfeeding.