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Dept of Health

Answer

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of the compliance of the distribution and content of Bounty packs in maternity units with the World Health Organisation's international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes; [171076] (2) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the content of Bounty packs provided to new mothers in maternity units for the Government's policy of increasing the number of women who breastfeed and increasing the length of time for which they breastfeed; [171160] (3) what discussions the Department has had with the producers of Bounty packs concerning the content of such packs. [171161] Miss Melanie Johnson: We have not made an assessment of the contents of Bounty packs provided to new mothers in maternity units or the compliance of their distribution with the World Health Organisation's international code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes. We are fully committed to the promotion of breastfeeding as the best nutrition for infants. We have a commitment in the NHS Plan for increased support for breastfeeding and have set a target to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by 2 per cent. in the priority and planning framework 2003-06, with particular focus on women from disadvantaged groups. The Department has produced an evidence based breastfeeding resource `Good Practice and Innovation in Breastfeeding' to support health professionals delivering the target. We are also working with Bounty and Baby Welcome to include our leaflet `How to Breastfeed' in Bounty packs.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

423 c578-9W; 171076;171160;171161

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Breastfeeding Marketing Mothers Infant foods

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk