The issue was highlighted in a recent series of articles published in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet that set out the economic and political power of the dominant formula companies and the alleged public policy failures that result in millions of women not breastfeeding as recommended.Exclusive breastfeeding for six months is recommended by the World Health Organization for optimal health and growth of infants, but it is not a common practice in South Africa.
"Adverts claim specialised formulas alleviate fussiness, help with colic, prolong night-time sleep, and even encourage superior intelligence. Labels use words like 'brain', 'neuro', and 'IQ' with images highlighting early development, but studies show no benefit of these product ingredients on academic performance or long-term cognition.
In 2012, South Africa published regulations relating to foodstuffs for infants and young children to implement the Code into law. According to Naazneen Khan, dietician and chairperson of the lobby group, the Infant Feeding Association, however, they are not aware of a nine-year delay."It is unclear which part or parts of the regulations the authors deem IFA to have unduly influenced. Legislation in South Africa now prohibits marketing, advertisements, sponsorships, donations, and a variety of activities relating to the designated products - all of which IFA and its members adhere to.
According to the series, of the most pervasive suggestions is that milk formula will encourage superior intelligence. Yet intervention studies and systematic reviews show no benefit of the ingredients added to these products on academic performance or long-term cognition.
The main output of the method is the breastmilk intake, but the method also tells you whether the infant is receiving something else in addition to breastmilk or whether the infant is exclusively breastfed. After the first few days, the composition of the breastmilk changes to a more"milky" colour. The volume that the baby can ingest also increases at this time.
"Although the manufacturers would like us to believe that infant formula is almost the same as breastmilk, it is not. Breastmilk is a dynamic substance which, as previously mentioned, changes in composition from day to day and month to month," says Mulol. This is in stark contrast to the tinned formula, which is the same every day and does not contain the active ingredients naturally present in breastmilk, she says.
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