Hosted by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)
Developed by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), the United States Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) and Complementary Foods (CF) Marketing Index assesses the marketing practices of baby food companies in the United States. In addition to unveiling the U.S. country report, the webinar will feature a discussion with Kimarie Bugg, CEO and Change Leader of Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, on the impact of BMS and CF marketing on families and communities, and with Jennifer Pomeranz, Associate Professor of Public Health Policy and Management at the NYU School of Global Public Health, on legally-feasible pathways to address marketing practices in the U.S.
The ATNI BMS and CF Marketing indexes assess the marketing policies of the largest baby food companies. As a compliment to this work, ATNI also conducts country studies that assess the companies' practices on the ground. The United States is one of five countries selected for 2024. Research shows that the marketing of BMS contributes to low rates of breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration, impacting a wide range of population health outcomes. To protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, the World Health Assembly adopted The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes in 1981 and has since passed many associated resolutions (known as "the Code"). The ATNI indexes assess the extent to which companies that make formulas and foods for infants and young children market their products in accordance with the Code. The United States has not adopted the Code or placed marketing restrictions on baby food manufacturers.