Why the government is banning feeding bottles starting May 28
By Moses Ngahu
The Ministry of Health has announced a nationwide ban on all feeding bottles effective May 28, 2022.
This was a response to the recent Parliamentary sittings where the National Assembly passed into law the Breast Milk Supplements (BMS) Regulation and Control Act of 2012 that stated bottles used for feeding infants as designated products, stating items are within the scope of regulation by the law.
Ms Esther Mogusu, the principal nutrition and diabetics officer at the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) congratulated the government for its firm stance on the ban on feeding bottles. The reason behind the regulation is that anything fed using bottles is considered not breast milk but a non-nutritious fluid.
[caption id="attachment_15851" align="alignnone" width="1536"]
File image of an empty feeding bottle. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
The bottle is said to have a silicon teet that does not have the same texture as the breast nipple. This is said to cause nipple confusion which may lead the baby to refuse to breastfeed normally.
Ms Mogusu further explained that suckling from a silicon bottle may cause pressure on the inner ear and may cause ear inflammation. Health professionals have said that the teat causes misalignment of the jaw since the baby has to bite down on it.
This has been said to cause dental carries caused by the sugar from the fluid in the bottle. The bottles are small in shape and this makes it hard for one to clean since they have multiple gloves and which can hide bacteria and microorganisms. Experts have said that the bottles often interfere with breastfeeding.
Effective May 28, bottles, teats, pacifiers and cups with spouts will not be allowed. Manufacturers of baby foods, including infant formula, complementary feeds and all baby feeding equipment will be expected to comply with the laid standards and general regulations outlined in the law.
As per the Ministry of Health Nutrition Director Veronica Wanjiru Kirogo, these regulations do not prohibit infant formula but regulate its marketing. The Act allowed the Health Cabinet secretary authority to make regulations concerning labelling, donations, information, education and communication between manufacturers and workers.
"I totally believe and agree with the ban, but the government should come up with regulations and come up with strategies to provide training,” Ms Martha Nyagaya stated.
She insisted that information on the importance of using a cup and spoon as an alternative to feeding bottles should be made available.
“We also need to recognize that the three per cent are vulnerable to malnutrition as they are not able to breastfeed."
[caption id="attachment_15853" align="alignnone" width="1280"]
File image of a baby drinking from a feeding bottle. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
File image of an empty feeding bottle. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
The bottle is said to have a silicon teet that does not have the same texture as the breast nipple. This is said to cause nipple confusion which may lead the baby to refuse to breastfeed normally.
Ms Mogusu further explained that suckling from a silicon bottle may cause pressure on the inner ear and may cause ear inflammation. Health professionals have said that the teat causes misalignment of the jaw since the baby has to bite down on it.
This has been said to cause dental carries caused by the sugar from the fluid in the bottle. The bottles are small in shape and this makes it hard for one to clean since they have multiple gloves and which can hide bacteria and microorganisms. Experts have said that the bottles often interfere with breastfeeding.
Effective May 28, bottles, teats, pacifiers and cups with spouts will not be allowed. Manufacturers of baby foods, including infant formula, complementary feeds and all baby feeding equipment will be expected to comply with the laid standards and general regulations outlined in the law.
As per the Ministry of Health Nutrition Director Veronica Wanjiru Kirogo, these regulations do not prohibit infant formula but regulate its marketing. The Act allowed the Health Cabinet secretary authority to make regulations concerning labelling, donations, information, education and communication between manufacturers and workers.
"I totally believe and agree with the ban, but the government should come up with regulations and come up with strategies to provide training,” Ms Martha Nyagaya stated.
She insisted that information on the importance of using a cup and spoon as an alternative to feeding bottles should be made available.
“We also need to recognize that the three per cent are vulnerable to malnutrition as they are not able to breastfeed."
[caption id="attachment_15853" align="alignnone" width="1280"] File image of a baby drinking from a feeding bottle. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption] What's Your Reaction?
