Government agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have been urged to strengthen regulation and coordination to ensure that consumer products, particularly those intended for children, remain safe.

In a statement issued Monday, Jan. 27, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) emphasized the importance of protecting child health through “robust regulation” of products intended for their consumption, including breast milk substitutes.

“Every child deserves the best nutrition and care to support their growth and development,” said UNICEF Philippines Acting Representative Behzad Noubary.

UNICEF stressed that it is critical for public health agencies like the FDA to uphold their authority in ensuring these products meet high safety standards to protect children from harm.

“The FDA’s decades of expertise in maintaining regulatory frameworks ensure that children in the Philippines have access to safe, nutritious products that support their healthy development and unlock their potential,” Noubary added.

Nutrition crisis

UNICEF highlighted that the Philippines faces a “critical nutrition crisis,” with one in four children experiencing the “triple burden of malnutrition,” including stunting, which affects nearly three million children.

The organization noted that malnutrition costs the country over USD 3.1 billion annually in lost productivity, underscoring the urgent need for policies and interventions prioritizing children’s nutrition.

Adequate nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life is critical for a child’s growth and development, UNICEF said. To ensure infants receive safe and sufficient nutrition, it is essential to promote breastfeeding while providing accurate, consistent, and objective information about the proper use of breast milk substitutes, supplements, and related products.

The FDA stated that achieving this requires implementing strong regulations governing the marketing and distribution of breast milk substitutes and related products.

UNICEF noted that the FDA enforces the Philippine Milk Code to ensure these standards are met, contributing to broader efforts to combat malnutrition and promote child growth and development.

Moreover, UNICEF stressed the need for consistent oversight to safeguard children’s health and prevent misleading claims about milk products that could lead families to choose less nutritious options.

To address this, UNICEF called for ongoing cooperation among 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 to safeguarding children’s well-being,” UNICEF said.