Senator Edward Kennedy - his key role in bringing marketing controls to protect infant health

"Whose responsibility is it to control the advertising, marketing and promotional activities which may create a market in Spite of public health considerations?"

Senator Edward Kennedy's opening Speech at the 1978 US Senate Hearing on the marketing of formula in developing countries


Senator Edward Kennedy cared not only for US citizens but also for international health. It was his vision, as Chairman of the US Senate Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, which instigated the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981. This Code is a benchmark for good practice and is used by governments all over the world to protect infant and young child health from unethical marketing.