Make breastfeeding the norm

Our reporter Zhou Yan

Breastfeeding is of great significance for promoting the growth and development of infants and young children, reducing the risk of maternal and infant diseases, and improving the health of mothers and infants

Universal breastfeeding core essentials

Breastfeeding can promote the physical and brain development of infants, enhance infant immunity, reduce the risk of colds, diarrhea, pneumonia, etc.

The "Plan" released this time proposes that in the first 6 months after the baby is born, exclusive breastfeeding is advocated, and infants and young children from 6 to 24 months should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding while scientifically adding complementary foods

According to a survey conducted by the China Development Research Foundation in 2019, the support rates of grandmothers, grandmothers and fathers for breastfeeding were 89.

Breastfeeding consultation and guidance in medical institutions is an important way for pregnant and lying-in women to acquire popular science knowledge

All-round solution to breastfeeding difficulties

The "Plan" proposes a comprehensive support plan for breastfeeding women's rights and feeding environment

For female employees who have completed maternity leave and voluntarily apply for early return to work, the employer may negotiate with the employee and adopt various flexible methods such as working for half a day or the next day to accumulate the maternity incentive leave that should be taken but not taken

In terms of promoting the construction of maternal and infant facilities, the "Plan" requires that public transportation hubs, commercial centers, medical institutions, tourist attractions, tourist attractions and entertainment facilities that often have mothers and infants stay and have a construction area of ​​more than 10,000 square meters or a daily passenger flow of more than 10,000 people.

The "Plan" also proposes to incorporate breastfeeding publicity and education, service supply, policy and system establishment, especially maternal and infant facilities, into the evaluation system of child-friendly cities and national demonstration cities for infant care services

Strictly regulate the market of breast milk substitutes

The "Investigation Report on Influencing Factors of Breastfeeding in China" pointed out that manufacturers and sellers of breast-milk substitutes promote breast-milk substitutes to infant mothers and their families through various channels, which significantly increases the possibility of infant mothers adding milk powder to their children, making the It was 30.

As early as 1995, China had clear regulations to manage breast-milk substitutes such as infant formula milk powder, including no promotion, no baby pictures on the product packaging, no use of "human milk", "breast milk" or similar terms

The "Plan" puts forward higher requirements for guiding the production and operation of breast-milk substitutes and related industry associations to strengthen industry self-discipline, promote the construction of industry integrity, and produce and sell in accordance with laws and regulations

　　In order to allow pregnant and lying-in women to use regular, cheap and safe breast-milk substitutes, the "Plan" sets out clear requirements for medical institutions to strengthen the construction of medical ethics and medical style, and to educate practitioners to consciously perform their duties in accordance with professional ethics and norms: medical institutions and their Personnel shall not publicize or recommend breast-milk substitutes to pregnant women and infant families; it is strictly forbidden for the production and operation units of breast-milk substitutes to carry out various forms of promotion in medical institutions; relevant production and operation units shall not promote and publicize in medical institutions that they can replace breast milk or have related products.

　　In terms of law enforcement and supervision, the "Plan" requires that, in accordance with the Food Safety Law and relevant national food safety standards, daily inspections of infant formula packaging, labeling and instruction manuals should be strengthened, and manufacturers should be urged to label and label according to the law

"China Food News" (November 26, 2021 03 edition)

　　(Editor in charge: Zhou Yan)