The whole world recoiled in horror at the recent Sanlu milk scandal in China: over 6,000 babies ill, including more than 150 in critical condition, and four deaths. News that melamine, a toxic chemical was deliberately added to local brands of baby milk to falsify protein levels have compelled Chinese parents to seek imported brands.

The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), a coalition of more than 200 citizen groups in 95 developing and industrialised nations, says that just switching to foreign brands of baby formula is not the solution, as these brands are susceptible to contamination too. IBFAN wants people to see the dangers of intrinsic contamination of powdered infant formula and to realise that artificial feeding itself is a risk to infant health.

IBFAN urges the Chinese government and governments worldwide to work towards having more mothers opt for breastfeeding instead. Breast milk is the optimal food for babies from birth up to the age of two years. It has the correct amount of nutrients, it is safe and hygienic, does not require sterilization or preparation. Aggressive marketing of cow’s milk formula has made mothers oblivious to all the benefits of breastfeeding.