FDBusiness.com

UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have slammed Danone for misleadingly claiming that they gave their backing to a Turkish marketing campaign for Aptamil and other infant formula products.

Over the weekend, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported that Danone had mislead mothers in Turkey with a marketing campaign that warned they might not be providing their babies with enough breast milk to meet nutritional needs.

The campaign suggested that infant formula be used to cover any shortfalls.

Danone argued that its advice to Turkish mothers was based on WHO guidance, and claimed that both WHO and UNICEF endorsed its campaign.

Both parties have, however, denied ever endorsing the French firm’s actions.

“UNICEF in principle will never support the use of infant formula for children under the age of six months,” a UNICEF representative told DairyReporter.com earlier today.

Also commenting, WHO representative, Dr João Breda, told DairyReporter.com that the organisation’s name and logo were being used on Danone-related websites without its permission.

“We have requested that Danone remove these references immediately,” he said.

“Does not reflect WHO recommendations”

According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism report, Danone’s Turkish infant nutrition business, Numil, began the campaign in 2010 after conducting research to measure the breast milk production of mothers of children aged six-months.

Those involved were found to produce an average of 290ml per day.