Formula adverts have no place in medical journals

Morgan, Sarah; Waterston, Tony; Kerac, Marko

doi:10.1136/bmj.l369

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Although, only a small proportion of HMS advertising (1.7%) was found and IC compliance among reviewed publications containing HMS advertising was assessed as poor (Morgan et al, 2018). Concerns about the influence of HMS advertising have been highlighted by others (Costello et al, 2017; Morgan et al, 2019; Waterston & Wright, 2019) and this has contributed to some professional associations and publications reviewing and amending their policies on accepting advertising and funding from HMS companies (Godlee, 2019; Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2019). While some HCP may argue that they can easily distinguish between the sales pitch and the facts, no one is immune to the persuasive power of marketing (Hastings et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advertising of Human Milk Substitutes in United Kingdom Healthcare Professional Publications: An Observational Study

Hickman

Morgan²,

Crawley³

et al. 2021

J Hum Lact

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Background Inappropriate marketing of human milk substitutes negatively influences efforts to protect breastfeeding. Although healthcare professionals can positively influence infant feeding decisions, government regulations permit manufacturers to communicate messages to them through advertising. Research Aims (1) To identify the extent of human milk substitute advertising in publications aimed at United Kingdom healthcare professionals and (2) to describe compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes and United Kingdom Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations. Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study. We reviewed publications targeting healthcare professionals working with families in the United Kingdom ( N = 19). Quantity and type of human milk substitute advertisements, as a proportion of all advertising, in each publication were recorded. All unique advertisements were double assessed for compliance. Results Human milk substitute advertising was found in nine (47%) of the 19 publications (four affiliated with professional associations), making up 10.3% ( n = 196) of these publications’ total advertising. Of human milk substitute advertisements found, 65.4% ( n = 110) were for products used to manage cows’ milk protein allergy. Of the 32 unique human milk substitute advertisements found, none complied with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes or United Kingdom Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations. Conclusions Many healthcare professionals’ publications had non-compliant human milk substitute advertisements. There is an urgent need to ensure full compliance with international and local regulation in future advertisements and to consider whether advertisements are justified at all.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advertising of Human Milk Substitutes in United Kingdom Healthcare Professional Publications: An Observational Study

Hickman

Morgan²,

Crawley³

et al. 2021

J Hum Lact

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There is something amiss with global health when academic journals advertise and have sponsorship policies that directly conflict with public health guidance. We are aware of one study on infant formula advertising in medical journals and although it reported that breast-milk substitute advertising in journals was uncommon, adverts identified were poorly compliant with the Code 11 12. We use two examples to illustrate journal adverts that violate the Code: in May 2018, Nature, a high-impact factor and widely read publisher with numerous subspecialty journals, published an open-access advertisement about formula milk, with the subtitle ‘ Mother’s milk is a rich source of many ingredients…Formula milk is unlikely to ever be a perfect substitute - but with the addition of human milk oligosaccharides, it has just got closer’ .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%