Milk maker denies WHO code breach
South China Morning Post
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
MAY CHAN

"Baby milk maker Wyeth (HK) defended itself yesterday against claims it had breached international rules by running TV adverts suggesting its formula milk helped make children smarter and healthier. The South China Morning Post reported yesterday how the company had been accused of breaching a World Health Organisation (WHO) code by breast-milk advocate Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association. The association said that the nutrient value of "Promil Gold" had been exaggerated in an advert aired on TVB Jade. It had been suggested that drinking the product would make babies smart and healthy. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes by the WHO says there should be no advertising on breast-milk substitutes and the use of images of babies on products should be banned. Wyeth medical affairs manager Sandra Lui Siu-hung said the advertisement concentrated on another milk product targeting children aged three to seven, and only showed one frame of "Promil Gold" along with other products."