Only 14% of infant formula trials are conducted independently of manufacturers, which skews the results.
- Breastfeeding is more frequent among women aged 30 or over, with qualifications and from a higher socio-professional category.
- The French infant nutrition market is estimated at 1.2 billion euros in 2018.
“Infant formula trials lack independence or transparency, and published results are biased by selective reporting.” In a new BMJ studyresearchers believe that health assessments of infant formula are unreliable.
To reach this conclusion, the scientists conducted a detailed analysis of 125 infant formula trials published since 2015. They found that only 17 (14%) of these studies were conducted independently of infant formula manufacturers.
A necessary change
The researchers therefore insist on “the need for substantial change in the conduct of infant formula trials to better protect participants from harm and to safeguard consumers from misleading information.”
At the age of 6 months, only 25% of French children are breastfed. According to a study carried out in 2018 on 8 AP-HP maternity wards, 70% of mothers want to exclusively breastfeed their child when they enter the maternity ward, and they are already only 50% when they leave.
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