World health officials were reportedly flabbergasted when the U.S. delegation to the World Health Assembly opposed what was expected to be a noncontroversial measure to promote breastfeeding.
U.S. diplomats told the Geneva conference of hundreds of international officials that the language of the resolution must be softened, which encouraged governments to “protect, promote and support breast-feeding.”
The New York Times reported the U.S. officials were catering to the interests of infant formula manufacturing companies, a $70 billion industry, who were also at Geneva.
The American representatives went as far as threatening Ecuador, which planned to propose the measure, with trade sanctions and withdrawing military aid if it did not change the resolution.
The measure also encouraged countries to crack down on misleading advertising of breast milk substitutes and the promotion of unhealthy food products for children.
“The resolution as originally drafted placed unnecessary hurdles for mothers seeking to provide nutrition to their children,” an HHS spokesman told the Times. “We recognize not all women are able to breast-feed for a variety of reasons. These women should have the choice and access to alternatives for the health of their babies, and not be stigmatized for the ways in which they are able to do so.”
Russia eventually backed the measure, causing the U.S. delegation to quiet down.