ABSTRACT
Objective:
To analyze if milk and complementary foods are being sold under the Brazilian Code of Marketing of Infant and Toddler's Food, Teats, Pacifiers and Baby Bottles (NBCAL), Law 11265/2006 of breastfeeding protection.
Methods:
Epidemiological survey that analyzed the marketing practices of pharmacies, supermarkets, and department stores in the Southern region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by direct observation.
Results:
Among the 349 stores in Rio de Janeiro's South Region, 339 traded milk and complementary foods and, among them, 60.8% were not complying with NBCAL. Infractions to NBCAL were more common for the selling of milk (58.6%) than complementary foods (22.8%). The most recurrent promotion strategy infringing NBCAL was discount pricing without the Ministry of Health disclaimer.
Conclusions:
Most retail stores infringe NBCAL in the commercialization of milk and complementary foods in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a violation of the right to information that may impact mothers’ choice regarding their child's feeding.
Keywords:
Breast feeding; Breast-milk substitutes; Direct-to-consumer advertising; Legislation, food; Products commerce