Harassment of health professionals by the infant food industry at scientific events

Authors

  • Ana Carla da Cunha Ferreira Velasco Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva. Niterói, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4198-2699
  • Maria Inês Couto de Oliveira Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Departamento de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística. Niterói, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0439-6295
  • Cristiano Siqueira Boccolini Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde. Laboratório de Informação em Saúde. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4804-5641

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2022056003398

Keywords:

Breast-Milk Substitutes, Legislation, Food, Food Publicity, Scientific and Educational Events, Health Personnel

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To analyze the receipt of sponsorships from breast-milk substitute companies by health professionals in scientific events. METHODS Multicenter study (Multi-NBCAL) performed from November 2018 to November 2019 in six cities in different Brazilian regions. In 26 public and private hospitals, pediatricians, nutritionists, speech therapists, and a hospital manager were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were carried out regarding the health professionals’ knowledge about the Norma Brasileira de Comercialização de Alimentos para Lactentes e Crianças de Primeira Infância, Bicos, Chupetas e Mamadeiras (NBCAL – Brazilian Code of Marketing of Infant and Toddlers Food and Childcare-related Products), companies sponsoring scientific events, and material or financial sponsorships received, according to profession. RESULTS We interviewed 217 health professionals, mainly pediatricians (48.8%). Slightly more than half of the professionals (54.4%) knew NBCAL, most from Baby-friendly Hospitals. Most health professionals (85.7%) attended scientific events in the last two years, more than half of them (54.3%) sponsored by breast-milk substitute companies, especially Nestlé (85.1%) and Danone (65.3%). These professionals received sponsorships in the events, such as office supplies (49.5%), meals or invitations to parties (29.9%), promotional gifts (21.6%), payment of the conference registration fee (6.2%) or ticket to the conference (2.1%). CONCLUSION The infant food industries violate NBCAL by harassing health professionals in scientific conferences, offering diverse material and financial sponsorships.

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Published

2022-07-25

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Harassment of health professionals by the infant food industry at scientific events. (2022). Revista De Saúde Pública, 56, 70. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2022056003398

Funding data