The Wire

25 years ago, an international standard was introduced in an attempt to stop multi-nationals marketing formula milk for babies in the developing world This came about because studies have shown breast milk remains the best defence that babies have against premature death and malnutrition. Yet according to the World Health Organization, 25 years on, baby food companies such as Nestle, Heinz and Gerber, are still engaging in misleading advertising. As a result, more women, especially those with low literacy rates, are feeding their children baby formula, often mixing it with poor quality water. And the reduction in breastfeeding is contributing to the premature deaths of 2 million babies.