Sponsorship of paediatric associations by infant formula manufacturers

The Lancet has published a commentary by ISSOP EC member Tony Waterston and Professor Charlotte Wright from Glasgow which takes to task the national paediatric associations that accept funding from manufacturers of breast milk substitutes for education, training or research purposes. See

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)32845-9/fulltext

The Egyptian conference organised by the RCPCH which was mentioned in the Lancet received much adverse publicity owing to its sponsorship by many formula companies, and this was reported in the BMJ and the Guardian.

Hence the announcement by the RCPCH on 13^th Feb that it would no longer accept funding from infant formula companies was received with enthusiasm and relief by the many people who have been campaigning in this direction for decades. It is to be hoped that other associations will adopt the same policies and certainly ISSOP will be doing all it can to encourage this.

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/rcpch-statement-relationship-formula-milk-companies