The Unexpected Purchase Undermining Breastfeeding

I would never in a million years have thought that, by purchasing a tin of baked beans or a squeeze-tube of ketchup, I would be supporting an industry that serves as a booby-trap for society, undermining the importance of breastfeeding world-wide. Yet, that is exactly what happens when one purchases Heinz.

The H.J. Heinz company, most famous for it's world-renowned Ketchup, violates the World Health Organisations' International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, as well as UNICEF's infant feeding code, in several ways:

Heinz produces baby food in the age range of 4-6 months. However; the World Health Organisation, along with several other health organisations worldwide, recommend that children be fed exclusively on breastmilk or infant formula until at least 6 months of age, when a childs' digestive system and motor skills have developed enough to allow him or her to self-feed.

Heinz strongly discourages baby-led weaning, claiming that when children self-feed, there is no way to ensure that they meet nutritional guidelines, despite WHO's stance that "food before one is just for fun". In the article linked, the company also falsely claims that there is an increased risk of choking with baby-led weaning. However, babies are indeed less likely to choke when self feeding, as a child is not capable of moving food from the front to the back of the mouth before learning first to chew.

In addition; Heinz also claims through false studies that children whose parents do not follow an authorative style of parenting and feeding will suffer from inadequate diets, reduced intake of fruits and vegetables and a lowered consumption of nutrients.

Despite this, Heinz claims that it is necessary to feed a child cereals and other foods which have been fortified with iron and other nutrients. Feeding a child, especially one who is under six months of age, iron supplements has been shown to lower the efficiency of his or her iron absorption.

Ironically, Heinz controlled over 29% of the global infant food market in 1994; including infant formulas-despite the fact that infants fed on cows' milk are more likely to fall into the high risk category of developing anemia.

Heinz distributes a nutritional guide to Chinese Hospitals labelled "A Good Start" which illegally claims that breastmilk will not meet the nutritional needs of babies past 4 months of age. Their infant formula company, Farleys', distributes similar booklets in the United Arab Emirates. In doing so, they violate their own companys' Global Code Of Conduct, stating that "all communications must be honest, truthful and not misleading."

As if this were not enough to dissuade you from supporting the company, the Advertising Standards Agency of Great Britain has reprimanded Heinz for claims that the ASA deems unsubstantiated: that Nurture brand infant formula would "protect" a childs' immune system, help eyes and brain "develop", and provide nourishment with milk proteins and calcium.

Heinz has also had product recalls, including their strained meats baby foods, for deformities in the products' glass which could break off during "normal" use.

When you make a purchase, your money acts as a vote for the company whose products you consume. Whenever a product is purchased, it acts as an indicator to the store to continue stocking this product, indeed buying it more frequently when demand runs strong, and so in buying from a company whose ethics you do not support provides them with your endorsement. This is why we, as a culture of consumers, must be informed and aware of the choices we make.