Lee King
17-07-2005, 18:23
The Australian Breastfeeding Association are encouraging members and concerned mothers to write to the Health minister and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7 to alert them that the baby food labelling issue has not been resolved as yet and has detrimental effects on breastfeeding in Australia.
The Australian NH&MRC guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding until around six months before the introduction of complementary foods and drinks.
But still many first foods labels still state recommended age as 4-6 months.
This news is disturbing. Many mothers rely on commercial baby food labelling to decide when to start offering solids or juices. At present, baby foods and juices are advertised and promoted for babies much younger than six months. Official statistics shows an increasing number of Australian babies have infant formula or solids before six months. Fewer than two in ten babies are exclusively breastfed to the recommended six months of age.
Mothers introducing solids or drinks early may unknowingly compromise their breastfeeding and their babies' health. Inaccurate baby food labelling is a problem our health system cannot afford.
It is particularly distressing that big corporations can prey on mothers with small babies for their profits by misleading them with incorrect information on their labels.
Some determined action is needed on the dismal breastfeeding picture that this influences.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand may not update the food labelling laws to reflect Australian health guidelines of exclusive breastfeeding until six months, as the two countries share labelling laws
and New Zealand is not amending its public health guidelines to reflect the new evidence - the minimum recommendation in New Zealand is just four months
of exclusive breastfeeding.
FSANZ contact details
PO Box 7186
Canberra MC ACT 2610
Fax: 61 2 6271 2278
jenny.hazelton@foodstandards.gov.au
Fed. Health Minister Tony Abbott contact details
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Australian Breastfeeding Association.
www.breastfeeding.asn.au
The Australian NH&MRC guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding until around six months before the introduction of complementary foods and drinks.
But still many first foods labels still state recommended age as 4-6 months.
This news is disturbing. Many mothers rely on commercial baby food labelling to decide when to start offering solids or juices. At present, baby foods and juices are advertised and promoted for babies much younger than six months. Official statistics shows an increasing number of Australian babies have infant formula or solids before six months. Fewer than two in ten babies are exclusively breastfed to the recommended six months of age.
Mothers introducing solids or drinks early may unknowingly compromise their breastfeeding and their babies' health. Inaccurate baby food labelling is a problem our health system cannot afford.
It is particularly distressing that big corporations can prey on mothers with small babies for their profits by misleading them with incorrect information on their labels.
Some determined action is needed on the dismal breastfeeding picture that this influences.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand may not update the food labelling laws to reflect Australian health guidelines of exclusive breastfeeding until six months, as the two countries share labelling laws
and New Zealand is not amending its public health guidelines to reflect the new evidence - the minimum recommendation in New Zealand is just four months
of exclusive breastfeeding.
FSANZ contact details
PO Box 7186
Canberra MC ACT 2610
Fax: 61 2 6271 2278
jenny.hazelton@foodstandards.gov.au
Fed. Health Minister Tony Abbott contact details
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Australian Breastfeeding Association.
www.breastfeeding.asn.au