INFACT Québec is a non-profit organization aiming to protect and normalize breastfeeding in Québec. Our goal is to protect the health and welfare of infants and mothers. We give mothers a voice and, on their behalf, lobby governments and local businesses to abide by the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code), while promoting breastfeeding to the general public.
You can help by making a donation today! Please be sure to choose ‘INFACT Québec’ from the drop-down menu. Thanks for your support!
Latest News…
February 19, 2012.
High Levels of Arsenic Found in Baby Formula
“[...] researchers found that the two baby formulas that contained brown rice syrup had arsenic levels that were far above the EPA standard for drinking water and more than 20 times greater than each of the 15 formulas that didn’t contain brown rice syrup” (the Boston Globe, Feb. 17, 2012)
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February 14, 2012.
University of Alberta to Award Nestlé Chairman Honorary Degree
Dear President Samarasekara and Chancellor Hughes,
I am writing to you with respect to the University of Alberta’s decision to award an honorary degree to Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the Chair of Nestlé. As the director of INFACT (Infant Feeding Action Coalition) Québec, a non-governmental organization that works to protect infant and young child health. It is difficult to understand why the University of Alberta would want to bestow upon Nestlé chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe the University’s highest honour by granting him an honorary degree.
Contrary to the claim that Brabeck-Letmathe has had a positive role to play in the “preservation, management, and distribution of one of the world’s most vital resources: water,” as both the CEO and Chair of Nestlé, Brabeck-Letmathe has been one of the leading proponents of turning water into nothing more than a commodity to be bought and sold for profit.
Nestlé is the world’s largest producer of bottled water and has been fought by communities worldwide for its reckless depletion of groundwater for its bottling plants. From misleading advertising to challenging municipalities and school boards which choose to promote tap water instead of its wasteful product, Nestlé’s corporate record on water is abysmal. Brabeck-Letmathe himself has called the notion that water is a human right “extreme” and has boasted about his closed-door dealings with the Alberta government to encourage them to move to a provincial water market.
Nestlé has an extensive record of engaging in irresponsible social and environmental practices which includes:
• Unethical marketing of infant formulas and repeated, systematic violations of the UNICEF/WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk substitutes and subsequent resolutions;
• The use of forced child labour in their cacao supply chains in West Africa;
• Non-labelled genetically modified foods;
• Controversial water pricing and the privatization of public water resources
• Lobbying against vaccination of livestock during the British Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in 2001;
• Environmental destruction in Brazil;
• Intimidation of trade unionists in Colombia;
• Demanding millions of dollars in compensation from hunger-stricken Ethiopia;
Because of these actions Nestlé has gained a reputation around the world of putting profits before the wellbeing of the global community, and is the target of the world’s largest consumer boycott. To counter its well-deserved negative reputation, Nestlé makes public shows of support for social causes such as food security; despite the fact that any independent examination of their actions shows that the company actively undermines such causes. Consider the fact that Nestlé is the largest promoter of infant formula in the world, a product that is neither affordable nor safe in many communities and erodes the food security of infants and young children, the most vulnerable members of society.
I am deeply disappointed that the University of Alberta feels that such a record is deserving of celebration and accolades, and encourage you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider bestowing such an honour on Brabeck-Letmathe.
Respectfully yours,
Carole Dobrich RN, IBCLC
INFACT Quebec President
And on behalf of the INFACT Quebec board of directors and members.
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Letter written by INFACT Canada:
INFACT Canada is deeply concerned that the University of Alberta is planning to award Mr. Peter Brabeck-Latmathlé, the Chair and former Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé, an honorary degree for contributing to “the preservation, distribution and management of one of humanity’s most vital resources: water.”
Protests are coming on from all over the world. Nestlé, which has been designated as the “Least Ethical Company” globally, is infamous for practices including destruction of water resources; aggressive marketing of infant formula and other baby foods in violation of the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent WHA resolutions; trade union busting and infiltrating public interest organizations critical of Nestlé’s predatory practices.
INFACT Canada joins the Council of Canadians in condemning University of Alberta’s plans to award Mr. Peter Brabeck-Latmathlé an honorary degree. Instead, the University should criticize Nestlé’s destructive business practices and inform the company that there is no honour for the CEO!
Swiss journalist Robert James Parsons has been writting about Nestlé since 1997. Read his brilliant letter to the University of Alberta heads.
Send your message today to:
- University of Alberta President, Indira Samarasekera: uofapres@ualberta.ca
- University of Alberta Chancellor, Linda Hughes: senate.office@ualberta.ca
Copy to:
- INFACT Canada: esterken@infactcanada.ca
- Baby Milk Action: prundall@babymilkaction.org andmikebrady@babymilkaction.org
You can also use the Council of Canadians’ online form to send a message to the University of Alberta President and Chancellor.
Elisabeth Sterken
Director INFACT Canada/IBFAN North America
esterken@infactcanada.ca
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January 17, 2012.
Abbot Nutrition Webcast to Target Canadian Health Care Providers
“Health care providers across Canada will be the target of an Abbott Nutrition webcast on Wednesday. The January 18th webcast, presented by doctors and scientists, will promote Abbott’s infant formula, focusing on two of its marketing gimmicks, prebiotics and lutein [...] Let the organizers and presenters of the webcast know what you think about this flagrant violation of the WHO Code!” (click here for more info and for a sample letter).
Related…(from Jennifer Peddlesden BScPharm IBCLC):
“Hello everyone,
Attached is a letter from IBFAN International Code Documentation Centre to CEO Miles White of Abbott regarding the programs which will air today, and go live tonight in Edmonton. Thanks to the BACE in Edmonton ( see their Facebook Page) for mobilizing some brave women who care about breastfeeding to come out and demonstrate to those who attend, how important this is to babies and mothers. CTV, Global and CBC have been notified. Watch the Edmonton Sun today for a letter to the Editor.
If you can, even at this 11th hour with barely 30 minutes left, send a message to CEO Miles White canada.nurition@abbott.com and GM Richard Bond ( same address) that you want them to stop this program. Copy the presenters and moderator, they are Philip Sherman philip.sherman@sickkids.ca , Dr. David Mackdmack@cheo.on.ca (moderator) , Dr. Glenn Gibson g.r.gibson@reading.ac.uk , Dr. Billy Hammond bHammond@uga.edu and of course, local organizer Michael Seibelmichael.seibel@abbott.com .”
Update: “I am pleased to say that on calling the Union Inn just moments ago, I found out that Abbott Nutrition cancelled their Edmonton dinner and live event for health professionals titled : Advancing Infant Formula Science. The online seminar is still on.
I believe it has been the cross-Canada, even international, pressure put on by those people such as yourselves who wrote to organizers and speakers that contributed to this cancellation of the live event in Edmonton.” – Jennifer Peddlesdon
Press release: INFACT Canada, January 16, 2012.
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December 24, 2011.
More retailers pull formula after baby’s death.
“Several more national retailers have joined Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in pulling a batch of powdered infant formula from their shelves after a Missouri newborn who consumed it apparently died of a rare bacterial infection, the companies said Friday.” (full article here)
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INFACT Québec, Annual General Assembly coming up!
INFACT Québec is having it’s Annual General Assembly on November 19th, 2011 in Montréal, QC. There will also be a mini-conference: “Conflit d’intérêt, l’industrie pharmaceutique et le Code international de commercialisation des substituts du lait maternel et son application”. Dr. Suzanne Dionne and Dr. Jean Claude Mercier will be presenting. For detailed information about this event, please see our brochure.
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Ask the UN to stop partnering with the baby food and junk food industries
Everyday we read or hear about unhealthy foods – foods like infant formula, processed/packaged industrially made infant foods, junk foods, foods with high levels of starch, transfats, highly processed foods, which increase our risk of getting cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and other non- communicable diseases (NCDs). We also know that breastfeeding of children for two years, with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, significantly reduces the risk of NCDs.
CLICK here if you want to protect your and your children’s health. Ask the UN to stop partnering with manufacturers of unhealthy foods to develop strategies to control NCDs.
Yet makers of infant milks, infant foods and other unhealthy foods bombard us every day with unethical advertising and false health and nutrition claims – images and words presenting their foods as safe, as healthy, as good, as the right choice.
TAKE ACTION TO STOP PROMOTION OF UNHEALTHY FOODS. Ask the UN to stop partnering with the baby food and junk food industry.
Click here to send the petition to the President of the United Nations General Assembly!
The UN is currently developing a “Political Declaration” and preparing for the High Level UN Summit on NCDs to be held in September in New York. The declaration proposes partnerships with the private sector for its future work. That means manufacturers of unhealthy foods including infant foods and junk foods will be able to influence future strategies. That is an UNHEALTHY PARTNERSHIP, you need to take action to stop it.
Sign the petition at:
http://www.onemillioncampaign.org/view_campaigns/stop-unhealthy-partnerships-0
We believe that the strategies to prevent NCDs should put strong emphasis on support to women to continue breastfeeding up to two years, especially exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and end promotion of all foods for infants, and children. Therefore manufacturers who market unhealthy foods should not be allowed to participate in developing strategies or making decisions regarding healthy foods and prevention of NCDs, as it is a clear case of conflict of interest.
TAKE ACTION TO STOP UNHEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS. Ask the UN to stop partnering with the private sector to develop strategies to control NCDs. Click here to send the petition.
Thanks!!
Elisabeth Sterken
Director INFACT Canada/IBFAN North America
esterken@infcatcanada.ca
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September 10, 2011.
from the website naturaltransition.com:
A WikiLeaks cable- The US Lobbied Against Breastfeeding in the Philippines
The US embassy lobbied against a breastfeeding campaign in the Philippines and blocked revisions in the Philippine Milk Code’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs). “The IRRs would ultimately harm the consumer by denying information. It will also damage the milk industry and negatively affect employment.” For more information, click here.
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September 9, 2011.
Good news!
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September 7, 2011.
Please
a. email the organizer Sonya Sereda of Mead Johnson, sonya.sereda@mjn.com
b. write to Dr. Jayprakash V. Patidar at this address 16940 87 AVE NW MISERICORDIA COMMUNITY HEALTH , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5R 4H5 ph (780) 735-2731 fax(780) 735-2794, or Dr. Mitchell.
c. write to the Royal College or, College of Family Physicians of Canada at info@cfpc.ca to apprise all three of them of your recognition of these violations;
1. of “the Code”
2. and for CFPC of their own policy statements of 1966, 2003, 2004 and 2006. What short memories.
Please pass this on to others who may also take time to write.
Sincerely,
Jen
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July 24, 2011
Breastfeeding discrimination is now officially outlawed in Australia (May 25, 2011). Anyone who discriminates against breastfeeding mothers is breaking the law under changes to the Sex Discrimination Act passed by the Federal Parliament. For more information, click here.
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July 7, 2011
Press Release (IBFAN) re: Nestlé’s ‘BabyNes System’:
“Nestlé is press releasing and publicising the BabyNes system in an idealising and misleading way, describing it as: “The first comprehensive nutrition system for babies” – a role which has been carried out by mothers far more safely and effectively since the human race began [...] Nestlé says the ‘state-of-the-art technology’ is based on its Nespresso coffee machine, stressing its convenience and safety but playing down the inherent risks which relate not only to the shortcomings in the formula itself, but to the water, the bottles, teats and to the many problems caused by not breastfeeding.” (more)
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May 17, 2011
Letter from ILCA:
We are pleased to share with our members this letter today by ILCA to WHO, ICDC and IBFAN, recognizing the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
TO: WHO, ICDC and IBFAN,
The International Lactation Consultant Association recognizes and lauds the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Code Documentation Centre (ICDC), and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) on the eve of an important anniversary in worldwide public health: The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the International Code) was adopted by the World Health Assembly thirty years ago (on May 21, 1981)!
ILCA is asking its 5,200+ international members to celebrate this milestone, and to honor the simple message of this international model policy for public health. The International Code is designed to protect healthy practices in infant and young child feeding. It has been legislated in nearly 200 countries around the world. It recognizes the basic premise that the biologic norm of breastfeeding provides health protections to mothers and children that last throughout their lives. The International Code is a unique and indispensable tool to protect and promote breastfeeding, and to seek ethical marketing of breastmilk substitutes, feeding bottles and teats.
The International Code predates the profession of IBCLCs and the formation of ILCA. Regardless of the legislative status of the International Code in one’s home country, IBCLCs today are required to support it under the edicts of the IBLCE Code of Ethics, the IBLCE Scope of Practice for IBCLCs and the ILCA Standards of Practice.
IBCLCs can raise awareness when unethical marketing tactics are encountered, by educating the mothers we serve and the colleagues with whom we practice. We call upon all ILCA members to recognize and celebrate this important public health milestone. We are grateful for the unceasing efforts of WHO, ICDC and IBFAN in educating governments, commercial entities, families and health workers about the International Code.
On behalf of the ILCA Board of Directors,
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA
ILCA President 2010-12
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May 10, 2011.
La Revue: Une politique d’allaitement à Gatineau?
“C’est dans les possibilités puisque les services regardent en ce moment ce dossier selon la président de la Commission des aînés et de la famille, Luc Angers. Le projet a été lancé par trois femmes venues faire une présentation à la Commission et il est en train de cheminer.” [full article]
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Reuters: Campaigners Say Baby Milk Code Still Breached.
“The world’s leading baby milk companies still flout a global code on marketing breast milk substitute, a campaign group said on Thursday, the eve of the 30th anniversary of its adoption.
Nestle and Danone, respectively the number one and number two baby milk distributors, were the worst offenders, the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) said in its latest biennial report.” [full article]
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Recall that in January 2011 a woman was asked to stop breastfeeding at a children’s clothing store in Montreal. For an update on the events that followed, including the human rights complaint that the mother in question filed with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, please click here.
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On April 21st a mother was nursing her baby at a shopping mall in St-Bruno and was told that what she was doing was illegal. This mother was aware of her legal right to breastfeed in public and wrote about her experience here. On May 19th at 1pm there will be a ‘Nurse-In’ to support and defend the rights of mothers and babies to breastfeed anytime, anywhere. Please share this information with everybody you know. Remember that not breastfeeding increases illness, healthcare costs, and our tax dollars.
Nurse-In
May 19, 1pm
Promenades St-Bruno
1, Boul. des Promenades
St.Bruno-de-Montarville
For more News and Events, please click on our ‘News’ tab above.