SafelyFed Canada

10/31/2025

Share and follow UNICEF Jamaica to see how you can help families with infants and young children as they recover from the devastating Hurricane Melissa.

10/02/2025

Newsletter out today with our statement on the product changes Medela made on July 1, sharing our colleague Stephanie George's land acknowledgement to the launch of the WBTi in Canada ( ) along with an interesting report from UNICEF on ultra-processed foods and the launch of a new gender and emergency management framework in the Canadian Journal of Disaster Management.

Subcribe here: https://safelyfed.ca/2023/08/subscribe/

06/18/2025

02/11/2025

Detailed post from Breastfeeding Committee For Canada on impacts of tariffs and inflation to families:

Families that choose to formula feed need access to a reliable supply chain that is affordable and accessible. The rising cost of infant formula, which may be subjected to future tariffs, can further exacerbate access challenges families may face in Canada. Household food insecurity, which may include lack of access to infant formula, can impact the growth and development of infants and lead to longer-term negative impacts on physical and mental health. A social safety net with a livable wage for all families is an important step to better ensure families can afford to feed their babies during a costly supply chain disruption. A short-term measure should include commercial infant formula labeled 0-12 months be excluded from the proposed tariffs.

Canadian families experienced a limited supply of infant formula for several months in 2022 and 2023 (https://lnkd.in/d-xV9RYB) due to considerable market disruptions following a four-month closure of a manufacturing facility in the United States. A as result, families in Canada have had challenges with access and affordability of infant formula. While Health Canada aims to develop a more secure supply chain for infant formula imported from other countries, there are steps Canadian families can take now to help prevent infant food insecurity in the face of new market disruptions.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, Dietitians of Canada, Canadian Pediatric Society, and the World Health Organization recommend:
- breast milk only for feeding your baby from birth to 6 months
- continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or more after introducing solid foods

91% ( https://lnkd.in/gNrDxtv6 ) of women in Canada choose to breastfeed but only 38% maintain exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months. The Baby-Friendly Initiative ( https://lnkd.in/dMGK65FZ ) provides guidance on the how to support families in meeting their infant feeding goals.

For women that medically need to supplement their baby with other milk, the next best alternative is pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM). ( https://lnkd.in/drqq7Ebs ). However, there are currently only four donor milk banks in Canada and the criteria to access PHDM is limited. To maximize the benefits of breastmilk for infants, better access to PDHM in Canada through expanding the criteria of who can receive it is needed.

When breastfeeding is accessible to Canadian families, it secures its own supply chain. Let’s do what we can to protect our most vulnerable population with support for all families whether they are breastfeeding, providing PDHM, or commercial infant formula.

02/11/2025

Letter has been sent!! Thanks so much for all who signed.

Stay tuned for updates on next actions.

Have you subscribed to our newsletter? Sign on and you won’t miss an update!

https://safelyfed.ca/2023/08/subscribe/

———————-

Please consider signing this letter to the Canadian government calling for infant food security measures to protect vulnerable families from harmful tariffs.

The letter calls for:
- increased measures to protect infant food security
- a tariff exemption for infant formula
- no exemption for unnecessary and harmful sugary beverages and ultra-processed foods

New signatures will be updated daily. The deadline for inclusion is Friday, February 14, 9 pm Ottawa time.

Yes, I will sign the letter to the Canadian government calling for infant food security measures to protect vulnerable families from harmful tariffs. The letter calls for: increased measures to protect infant food security a tariff exemption for infant formula no exemption for unnecessary and harmfu...

01/28/2025

URGENT pls share
“HIV & Breastfeeding in Emergencies” : when antiretroviral ( ) drugs are not immediately available and replacement feeding isn’t available & safe, recommend exclusive for first 6 mo & continue thereafter

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550321

11/27/2024

Do you know of families with food security issues related to infant feeding? Acadia is doing a research project, share with your networks!

11/27/2024

Great news - the Operational Guidance for Counselling in Emergencies is now available in Arabic and Spanish! https://www.ennonline.net/breastfeedingcounsellinginemergencies

Breadcrumb Home IFE Resources Operational Guidance on Breastfeeding Counselling in Emergencies Operational Guidance on Breastfeeding Counselling in Emergencies Publication details Authors: ENN and IFE Core Group Resource type: Guidelines and Guidance Published: January 2021 Available in: En Español...

11/27/2024