UNICEF stresses need for food and drug administration oversight to protect child health and nutrition

MANILA, 27 January 2024 – UNICEF emphasizes the importance of protecting child health through robust regulation over products intended for their consumption, including breast milk substitutes. It is critical that agencies mandated to protect public health, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), maintain their authority to ensure these products meet high safety standards that protect children from potential harm.

The Philippines faces a critical nutrition crisis, with one in four children experiencing the triple burden of malnutrition, including stunting, which affects almost 3 million children. Annually, malnutrition costs the country over USD 3.1 billion in lost productivity, which highlights the urgent need for policies and interventions that prioritize children.

“Every child deserves the best nutrition and care to support their growth and development,” said Behzad Noubary, Acting Representative for UNICEF Philippines. “The FDA’s decades of expertise in maintaining regulatory frameworks ensures that children in the Philippines have access to safe, nutritious products that support their healthy development and empower their potential.”

Adequate nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life is critical for a child’s growth and development. To ensure infants receive safe and sufficient nutrition, it is essential to protect and promote breastfeeding while providing the public with accurate, consistent, and objective information about the appropriate use of breast milk substitutes, supplements, and related products. This can be achieved through the implementation of strong regulations governing the marketing and distribution of these substitutes and related products.

The FDA enforces the Philippine Milk Code to ensure these standards are met and plays an important role in the broader effort to combat malnutrition and promote child growth and development. Consistent oversight remains necessary to safeguard children’s health and prevent claims about milk and milk products that could mislead families to select less nutritious options.

UNICEF urges ongoing cooperation between all sectors to support policies that protect child health and ensure every child has access to proper nutrition from the start. Strong regulation and coordination across government agencies are crucial for safeguarding children’s well-being. ###