The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) consists of more than 200 public interest groups working around the world to save lives of infants and young children by working together to bring lasting changes in infant feeding practices at all levels. IBFAN aims to promote the health and well-being of infants and young children and their mothers through protection, promotion and support of optimal infant and young child feeding practices. IBFAN works for the universal and full implementation of ‘International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes’ and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions.

IBFAN has celebrated its 25th anniversary on 12th Oct 2004 at Costa Rica.

One of the most important words in IBFAN’s name is action: the network is organised as a social movement which draws its strength from grass roots experience and pressure for change. Individually and collectively the community groups take action to secure lasting improvements in infant and young child feeding. The BF in IBFAN stands for Baby Food and indicates its emphasis on all foods promoted for babies from birth to two years and beyond. The infant food industry would love to see public attention restricted to just “infant formula” but IBFAN believes that there are many other foods and drinks which interfere with exclusive breastfeeding and which stop a mother from breastfeeding as long as she and her baby would like.

Recognition of IBFAN’s achievements

In 1998, IBFAN’s work was recognised when the network became one of the four recipients of the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize. IBFAN was honoured “for its committed and effective campaigning over nearly 20 years for the right of mothers to breastfeed their babies free from the commercial pressure and misinformation used by companies to promote their breastmilk substitutes”.

The Regional Coordinating Offices

IBFAN is divided regionally with representatives from each region making up the IBFAN Coordinating Council (IBCoCo). Because of the occasionally sensitive nature of our work, all enquiries about IBFAN in a particular country must go through the Regional Coordinating Offices (RCOs).

Regional meetings are held about every 2 years to enable groups to share experiences, formulate policy and train each other. Regional Representatives are elected at these meetings to sit on the IBFAN Coordinating Council (IBCoCo). IBCoCo also meets about every 2 years to coordinate policy for the global network.