(Paris) The vast majority of health arguments touted by artificial baby milks are not based on any solid scientific research, according to a study published Thursday, whose authors call for plain packaging for these products.
The publication of this study comes a week after a series of articles appeared in the scientific journal The Lancet calling for stricter regulations imposed on manufacturers of infant formula. Manufacturers are accused of “predatory” marketing exploiting the fears of new parents to convince them not to breastfeed.
Health authorities – including the World Health Organization – recommend giving priority to breastfeeding, because of its health benefits for babies.
Daniel Munblit, honorary lecturer at Imperial College London and co-author of this new study, published in BMJ, defends himself against any “crusade” by researchers against formula milk, which must remain an option for mothers who cannot or not wishing to breastfeed.
“But we are strongly opposed to inappropriate marketing of infant formula, when it provides misleading claims that are not supported by solid evidence,” Daniel Munblit told AFP, who says he is in favor of plain packaging.
The scientist and an international team of researchers examined the health claims made for 608 products on the sites of infant formula manufacturers in fifteen countries, including the United States, India, the United Kingdom and Nigeria .
Sales pitches claim benefits for baby’s brain development, immune system strengthening and growth.
But half of the targeted products did not link the claimed health benefit to a specific ingredient, according to the study released Thursday. And three quarters of these products do not mention any scientific reference attesting to these supposed benefits.
Only 14% of the products have undergone registered clinical trials on humans. However, 90% of these trials were at high risk of bias, such as missing data or findings that did not truly support the selling point, according to the study.
And above all, for 90% of clinical trials, the authors received funding or had links with industry, he added.