In a statement, IFC argued simply that no violations of the Code could have taken place because its principles were never incorporated into US law. Public Citizen claims that by supplying US healthcare providers with product samples to distribute to parents, the firms have failed to adhere to the principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes - notably Articles 5.2 ( “Manufacturers and distributors should not provide, directly or indirectly, to pregnant women, mothers or members of their families, samples of products”) and 6.2 ( “No facility of a health care system should be used for the purpose of promoting infant formula”).ĭ approached Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Nestlé USA regarding the petition but was referred to IFC, which counts all three as members. Last month, US consumer group Public Citizen delivered an 18,000 signature-strong petition to Mead Johnson Nutrition (Enfamil), Abbott Laboratories (Similac), and Nestlé USA (Gerber), in which it urged them to “stop distributing samples of infant formula in healthcare facilities.” Packaging & Packing Materials, Containers.Processing Equipment & Systems, Automation, Control.Filling & Packaging Equipment & Systems.
