Global Trends and Patterns of Commercial Milk-Based Formula Sales: Is an Unprecedented Infant and Young Child Feeding Transition Underway?
Public Health Nutrition, Forthcoming
24 Pages Posted: 5 Jul 2016
Date Written: May 29, 2016
Abstract
Objective: The marketing of infant/child milk-based formulas (MF) contributes to suboptimal breastfeeding and adversely affects child and maternal health outcomes globally. However, little is known about recent changes in MF markets. This study describes contemporary trends and patterns of MF sales at the global, regional and country levels. It further examines what social, economic and political factors are driving global sales growth and between-country variations in formula consumption.
Design: Descriptive statistics of trends and patterns in MF sales volume per infant/child for the years 2008-2013 and projections to 2018, using industry-sourced data.
Setting: 80 countries categorised by country income bracket, for developing countries by region, and in countries with largest infant/child populations.
Subjects: MF categories included total (for ages 0-36 months), infant (0-6 months), follow-up (7-12 months), toddler (13-36 months), and special (0-6 months).
Results: In 2008-2013 world total MF sales grew by 40.8% from 5.5 to 7.8kg per infant/child/year, a figure predicted to increase to 10.8kg by 2018. Growth was most rapid in East Asia particularly in China, Indonesia and Vietnam and was led by the infant and follow-up formula categories. Sales volume per infant/child was positively associated with country income level although with wide variability between countries.
Conclusions: A global infant and young child feeding (IYCF) transition towards diets higher in MF is underway and is expected to continue apace. The observed increase in MF sales raises serious concern for global child and maternal health, particularly in East Asia, and calls into question the efficacy of current regulatory regimes designed to protect and promote optimal IYCF. Income growth, increasing female labour force participation, and urbanization are likely to be key factors driving increased formula demand. However, between country variations in formula sales are powerfully driven by differences in the adoption and effectiveness of maternity protection policies (e.g. paid maternity leave), and the regulation of commercial infant formula marketing.
Keywords: infant and young child feeding, nutrition transition, formula, breast-milk substitutes
JEL Classification: I11, I12, I18,
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation