Medical Council denies conflict of interests over baby food bill
By Puangchompoo Prasert 
The Nation 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THE MEDICAL COUNCIL has defended its board members from allegations that they may have had a conflict of interest when criticising the so-called Milk Code bill, which seeks to ban commercial promotion of food for infants and young children.

 

“Our board members have no vested interest in any business group,” the council said yesterday.

 

Its statement also said the board of the Medical Council agreed in principle about the bill and believed that breast milk was extremely important to infants.

 

“We support professional bodies in presenting easy-to-understand information to the public,” the statement said, “Academic comments either for or against the bill will be made during the deliberation by the National Legislative Assembly [NLA]”.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30302603

 

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If the Medical Council members are truly worried about substitution of infant formula by unhealthy foods, there is a simple solution.

 

1. They should promote breastfeeding as the safe natural way to feed a baby with many proven benefits over formula.

2. They should advise that use of infant formula is a last resort for mothers who cannot breastfeed, or do not produce sufficient milk, and should only be used under medical advice/supervision. 

3. They should issue advice to parents on what foods are safe and healthy to give to babies once they start needing solid foods as well as breast milk.

 

Their remarks certainly sound confusing if they are denying conflicts of interest.