Breastfeeding support
Breastfeeding is the best way to ensure healthy growth and development of infants during the first months of life. Therefore, we support the recommendation of the World Health Organisation that babies should only receive breastmilk in the first six months of life. Also afterwards breastfeeding should continue up to two years and beyond while introducing other foods.
If mothers are unable or choose not to breastfeed, babies should be fed healthy alternative food. FrieslandCampina produces high-quality foods for infants and young children that are safe and meet their nutritional needs. FrieslandCampina draws on science to produce good nutrition for infants and young children. It can either support breast milk or substitute breast milk, if necessary.
Marketing of breast milk substitutes
In our marketing of infant foods, we are committed to adhere to the goals and principles of the World Health Organisation International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant WHA Resolutions. The Code’s principles and concomitant rules for responsibly marketing foods for infants and young children are embedded in our work. Our Policy for the Marketing of Infant Foods supports and protects breastfeeding, and, when necessary, ensures that our products are used properly.
Our Policy for the Marketing of Infant Foods
The Policy outlines how FrieslandCampina markets and sells foods for infants and young children responsibly. It is based on ten Guiding Principles for Compliance describing the responsible marketing practices that FrieslandCampina employees and partners must follow in the marketing and sales of our infant foods. For a detailed description of the Policy and the Guiding Principles and to read how they relate to the World Health Organisation Code, click the links below.
Monitoring compliance
The FrieslandCampina Policy is implemented company-wide and continuously reviewed to reinforce the importance of responsible marketing practices. We monitor compliance on a regular basis. In our compliance status report we show how we work to ensure responsible marketing practices and how we have performed in the previous year.
External audits are regularly performed by Bureau Veritas in our Operating Companies to independently assess the compliance of local marketing practices with our Policy.
Transparent engagement
FrieslandCampina is continuously in dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders with diverging interests. These discussions take place by employees at all levels within the organisation and often form part of their daily work. FrieslandCampina’s advocacy activities, either direct or via trade associations, are transparent and fact based, and carried out according to local legislation, where existing. FrieslandCampina employees involved in the marketing of infant foods that undertake advocacy activities on behalf of FrieslandCampina adhere to the principles laid down in the FrieslandCampina Policy for Responsible Advocacy.
FrieslandCampina seeks alignment with trade associations and industry policy groups in order to carry out activities according to the same standards with regards to our Policy for the Marketing of Infant Foods. A full list of trade associations and industry groups globally, relating to infant and young child nutrition, of which FrieslandCampina is a member, can be found below.
Breast Milk Substitutes Call to Action
In June 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and six civil society organisations published a Call to Action to all manufacturers of breast-milk substitutes. The Call to Action urges manufacturers to commit to full compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (WHO Code) and subsequent relevant WHA resolutions by 2030.
FrieslandCampina has actively engaged with all stakeholders leading up to the publication of the Call to Action. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the dialogue between industry and civil society organizations, enabling us to support the ambition of improving the health and nutrition of mothers, infants and young children around the globe. We are committed to continue our engagement focusing on the future and challenges ahead.
Recognised by ATNI
FrieslandCampina is recognised for the expanded scope and implementation of its Breast-milk Substitute (BMS) marketing of infant foods policy. assessment by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) shows FrieslandCampina’s high level of compliance with both local regulations and internal company policies.