🤝🌎 The Unfair World of Baby Formula Marketing

Babies all around the world deserve the best start in life, and as parents, we want the best for our little ones. But did you know that some companies are putting profits over people in the marketing of baby formula? 🤱‍♀️

Imagine you're a young mom living in a community where poverty is a reality. You just had a new baby and your doctor recommended a particular brand of baby formula, but it's expensive and you can't afford it. That's when the salesman knocks on your door, offering a "deal" that seems too good to be true. The price may be cheaper, but what lies beneath the surface? 🤔

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF are sounding the alarm on baby formula marketing in South Africa. They've found that companies are making it difficult for parents like you to make informed decisions about their baby's health. Here are some shocking tactics:

• Companies are bribing doctors to prescribe their formula, even if it's not the best choice for your baby.
• Salesmen are targeting low-income communities, knowing they can't afford the original prices.
• Online advertising targets vulnerable people, playing on their emotions and making false promises.
• Companies hide high iron levels in their formula, posing a risk to babies' health.

"If you're an infant formula company, you would not be able to operate like this anywhere else in the world. But in South Africa, this has become the norm," says Dr. Neff walker, a WHO expert.

Imagine your local nurse or doctor being rewarded with a trip to a conference or a fancy car for recommending your baby formula. This is not right. Our babies deserve better, and it's up to us to do something about it.

The consequences of baby formula marketing in low-income households can be disastrous. Malnutrition, failure to thrive, and even death are just a few of the risks. But there are some amazing organizations working to stop this unethical practice.

• Bwala is a non-profit organization that has taken it upon themselves to educate new parents about the dangers of baby formula marketing. They offer workshops, parenting classes, and even provide access to free nutrition support.

• UNICEF is pushing for legislation to safeguard the rights of families and protect them from false advertising.

But it will take all of us working together to make change. In this article, in the Daily Maverick, you can read more about this issue and how to get involved. (https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-29-babies-before-bottom-lines-who-and-unicef-slam-unethical-baby-formula-marketing-in-sa/)

We can stand together to ensure that babies around the world get the care they deserve.

Please join us in demanding a fairer world for our children and call to action at UNICEF by donating today: 🤝

**Donate to UNICEF today: https://www.unicef.org/south-africa/support-us/donate**
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Please Donate now so we can help our children and elderly. Any amount no matter how small once only or if you can, on a monthly basis. So many children will be so grateful for you!
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