Areas of expertise

• Health And Community Services 111708
• Public Policy 160510
• Public Nutrition Intervention 111104
• Health Promotion 111712
• Health Economics 140208
• Community Child Health 111704
• Public Economics Taxation And Revenue 140215

Research interests

Biography

Researcher's projects

Available student projects

Current student projects

Past student projects

Publications

• Baker, P, Smith, J, Garde, A et al. 2023, 'The political economy of infant and young child feeding: confronting corporate power, overcoming structural barriers, and accelerating progress', Lancet, The (UK edition), vol. 401, no. 10375, pp. 503-524.
• Smith, J, Lande, B, Johansson, L et al. 2022, 'The contribution of breastfeeding to a healthy, secure and sustainable food system for infants and young children: monitoring mothers' milk production in the food surveillance system of Norway', Public Health Nutrition, vol. 25, no. 10, pp. 2693-2701.
• Cetthakrikul, N, Kelly, M, Baker, P et al. 2022, 'Effect of baby food marketing exposure on infant and young child feeding regimes in Bangkok, Thailand', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 1-15.
• Cetthakrikul, N, Kelly, M, Banwell, C , Baker, P, Smith JP. 2022, 'Regulation of baby food marketing in Thailand: a NetCode analysis', Public Health Nutrition, vol. 25, no. 10, pp. 2680-2692.
• Pramono, A, Smith, J, Bourke, S et al. 2022, '"We All Believe in Breastfeeding": Australian Midwives' Experience of Implementing the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative', Journal of Human Lactation, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 780-791.
• Pramono, A, Smith, J, Bourke, S et al. 2022, 'How midwives and nurses experience implementing ten steps to successful breastfeeding: a qualitative case study in an Indonesian maternity care facility', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 1-11.
• Stone, C & Smith, JP 2022, 'The visibility of breastfeeding as a sexual and reproductive health right: a review of the relevant literature', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 1-15.
• Baker, P., Santos, T., Neves, P. A., Machado, P., Smith, J., Piwoz, E., Barros, A. J. D., Victora, C. G., & McCoy, D. (2021, Apr). First-food systems transformations and the ultra-processing of infant and young child diets: The determinants, dynamics and consequences of the global rise in commercial milk formula consumption. Matern Child Nutr, 17(2), e13097. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13097
• Smith, J & Forrester, R 2021, 'Association between breastfeeding and new mothers' sleep: a unique Australian time use study', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 1-13.
• Pramono, A, Smith, J, Desborough, J et al. 2021, 'Social value of maintaining baby-friendly hospital initiative accreditation in Australia: case study', International Journal for Equity in Health, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 1-12.
• Dadhich, J, Smith, J, Iellamo, A et al. 2021, 'Climate Change and Infant Nutrition: Estimates of Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Milk Formula Sold in Selected Asia Pacific Countries', Journal of Human Lactation, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 314-322.
• Pramono, A, Desborough, J, Smith, J et al. 2021, 'The social value of implementing the ten steps to successful breastfeeding in an Indonesian hospital: A case study', Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, vol. 94, no. 3, pp. 429-458.
• Cetthakrikul, N, Baker, P, Banwell, C, Kelly, M, Smith, JP. 2021, 'Corporate political activity of baby food companies in Thailand', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 1-13.
• Jenkins, F & Smith, J 2021, 'Work-from-home during COVID-19: Accounting for the care economy to build back better', The Economic and Labour Relations Review, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 22-38.
• Smith, J & Iellamo, A 2020, 'Wet nursing and donor human milk sharing in emergencies and disasters: A review', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 7-23.
• McGuire, J, Irvine , S, Smith, J et al. 2020, 'Creating supportive environments for responsive infant feeding in Australian early childhood education and care', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 47-64.
• Holla-Bhar, R, Iellamo , A, Gupta, A et al. 2019, 'Letter to the Editor on the Article by Caroll GJ, Buccini GS, and P�rez-Escamilla R Titled "Perspective: What Will it Cost to Scale-Up Breastfeeding Programs? A Comparison of Current Global Costing Methodologies"', Advances in Nutrition, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 727-727.
• Smith, J 2019, 'A commentary on the carbon footprint of milk formula: harms to planetary health and policy implications', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 14, no. 49, pp. 1-7.
• Smith, J 2019, 'Counting the cost of not breastfeeding is now easier, but women's unpaid health care work remains invisible', Health Policy and Planning, Volume 34, Issue 6, July 2019, Pages 479–481, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czz064
• Pramono, A, Desborough, J & Smith, J 2019, 'The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding Policy Review', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 15-28.
• McGuire, J, Irvine, S, Smith, J et al 2019, 'Australian early childhood educators and infant feeding: a qualitative analysis using social cognitive theory [IN PRESS]', Early Child Development and Care, vol. Online, pp. 1-16.
• Eden, K, Carroll, K, Williamson Smith, R et al. 2019, 'Designated private breastfeeding spaces in the university sector: An audit of one Australian university', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 43-52.
• Smith, J 2018, 'Australia's national breastfeeding strategy: What's happening and will it work?', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 7-14.
• Smith JP, Cattaneo A, Iellamo A, Javanparast S, Atchan M, Hartmann B, et al. Review of effective strategies to promote breastfeeding: an Evidence Check rapid review brokered by the Sax Institute (www.saxinstitute.org.au) for the Australian Department of Health. Canberra, Australia: Australian Department of Health, ; 2018.
• Smith, J, Iellamo, A & Baker, P 2018, Child health is on the line as Codex deliberates food standards, Croakey, p. 1.
• Smith, J, Costa, M & Stewart, M 2017, Report: Gender responsive budgeting and breastfeeding policies: insights from the Asia-Pacific region.
• Smith, J 2017, 'Markets in mother's milk: Virtue or vice, promise, or problem?', in Mathilde Cohen and Yoriko Otomo (ed.), Making Milk: The past, present and future of our primary food, Bloomsbury, United Kindgdom, pp. 117-137.
• Forgues, C, Mazanov, J & Smith, J 2017, 'The paradox of human milk doping for anti-doping', Performance Enhancement and Health, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 158-165.
• Smith, J 2017, 'Paying for care in Australia's wage earners' welfare state': The case of child endowment', in Miranda Stewart (ed.), Tax, Social Policy and Gender: Rethinking Equality and Efficiency, ANU E Press, Canberra, pp. 161-205.
• Smith, J and Folbre N., 2018, 'New ways to measure economic activity: Breastfeeding as an economic indicator', ANU Online, pp. 3pp.
• Smith, J & Forrester, R 2017, 'Maternal Time Use and Nurturing: Analysis of the Association Between Breastfeeding Practice and Time Spent Interacting with Baby', Breastfeeding Medicine, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 269-278.
• Smith, J, Javanparast, S & Craig, L 2017, 'Bringing babies and breasts into workplaces: Support for breastfeeding mothers in workplaces and childcare services at the Australian National University', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 45-57pp.
• Hull, N, Schubert, L & Smith, J 2017, 'Perspectives of key stakeholders and experts in infant feeding on the implementation of the Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy 2010-2015', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 25-34.
• Ryan, M & Smith, J 2016, 'Breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and training amongst Australian community pharmacists', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 35-43.
• Baker, P, Smith, J, Salmon, L et al 2016, 'Global trends and patterns of commercial milk-based formula sales: is an unprecedented infant and young child feeding transition underway?', Public Health Nutrition, vol. 19, no. 14, pp. 2540-2550pp.
• Salmon, L, Smith, J & Baker, P 2015, Driving demand for baby milk - the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission's gift to industry marketing?, pp. 1-5pp.
• Halcomb, E, Furler, J, Hermiz, O et al 2015, 'Process evaluation of a practice nurse-led smoking cessation trial in Australian general practice: views of general practitioners and practice nurses', Family Practice, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 468-473.
• Smith, J 2015, 'Australian state income taxation: a historical perspective', Australian Tax Forum, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 679-712.
• SMITH, J. P., SARGENT, G. M., MEHTA, K., JAMES, J., BERRY, N., KOH, C., SALMON, L. & BLAKE, M. 2015. A rapid evidence assessment: Does marketing of commercially available complementary foods affect infant and young child feeding? . Geneva, Switzerland: Commissioned by the World Health Organization, . https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/CF_anu_effects_marketingcommercial.pdf?ua=1
• Dadhich, J, Smith, J, Iellamo, A et al 2015, Report on Carbon Footprints Due to Milk Formula: A study from selected countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
• Zwar, N, Richmond, R, Halcomb, E et al 2015, 'Quit in general practice: a cluster randomized trial of enhanced in-practice support for smoking cessation', Family Practice, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 173-180.
• Holla-Bhar, R, Iellamo, A, Gupta, A et al 2015, 'Investing in breastfeeding: the world breastfeeding costing initiative', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 10, no. 8, p. 12.
• Smith, J 2015, 'Markets, breastfeeding and trade in mothers' milk', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol. 10, no. 9, p. 7.
• Smith, J, Galtry, J & Salmon, L 2014, 'Confronting the formula feeding epidemic in a new era of trade and investment liberalisation', Journal of Australian Political Economy, vol. 73, no. 73, pp. 132-171.
• Smith, J. P. 2014. Making mothers’ milk count. In: Bjornholt M, McKay A. (eds.) Counting on Marilyn Waring: New Advances of Feminist Economics. Bradford, Ontario: Demeter Press. p. 344.
• Smith, J & Blake, M 2013, 'Infant food marketing strategies undermine effective regulation of breast-milk substitutes: trends in print advertising in Australia, 1950-2010', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 337-344.
• Smith, J & Forrester, R 2013, 'Who Pays for the Health Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding? An Analysis of Maternal Time Costs', Journal of Human Lactation, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 547-555.
• Smith, J 2013, '"Lost Milk?" Counting the Economic Value of Breast Milk in Gross Domestic Product', Journal of Human Lactation, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 537-546.
• Smith, J, McIntyre, E, Craig, L et al 2013, 'Workplace support, breast feeding and health', Family Matters, vol. 93, no. 93, pp. 58-73.
• Smith, J, Javanparast, S, McIntyre, E et al 2013, 'Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Mothers in Childcare', Australian Journal of Labour Economics, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 65-90.
• Smith, J 2012, Including household production in the system of National Accounts (SNA) - exploring the implications of breastfeeding and human milk provision.
• Smith, J & Harvey, P 2011, 'Chronic disease and infant nutrition: is it significant to public health?', Public Health Nutrition, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 279-289.
• Smith, J & Ellwood, M 2011, 'Feeding Patterns and Emotional Care in Breastfed Infants', Social Indicators Research, vol. 101, no. 2, pp. 227-231.
• Zwar, N, Richmond, R, Halcomb, E et al 2010, 'Quit in general practice: a cluster randomised trial of enhanced in-practice support for smoking cessation', BMC Family Practice Journal, vol. 11, p. 8.
• Baxter, J, Cooklin, A & Smith, J 2009, 'Which mothers wean their babies prematurely from full breastfeeding? An Australian cohort study', Acta Paediatrica, vol. 98, no. 8, pp. 1274-77.
• Smith, J, Dunstone, M & Elliott-Rudder, M 2009, 'Health Professional Knowledge of Breastfeeding: Are the Health Risks of Infant Formula Feeding Accurately Conveyed by the Titles and Abstracts of Journal Articles?', Journal of Human Lactation, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 350-358.
• Smith, J 2007, 'Time use among new mothers, the economic value of unpaid work and gender aspects of superannuation tax concessions', Australian Journal of Labour Economics, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 99-114.
• Smith, J 2007, 'The contribution of infant food marketing to the obesogenic environment in Australia', Breastfeeding Review, vol. 15, no. 1, p. 23.
• Smith, J 2007, 'The Marketed environment: formula for fatness', in Jane Dixon and Dorothy.H Broom (ed.), The seven deadly sins of obesity: how the modern world is making us fat, UNSW Press, Sydney, pp. 101-125.
• Smith, J & Ingham, L 2005, 'Mothers milk and measures of economic output', Feminist Economics, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 41-62.
• Smith, J 2004, 'Tax Advance or Retreat? Where to from Here with a New Tax System', Australian Options, vol. Spring 2004, no. 38, pp. 115-8.
• Smith, J 2004, 'The Syntax of Sin Taxes', in Julie P. Smith (ed.), Taxing Popularity: The Story of Taxation in Australia (2nd ed), Australian Tax Research Foundation, Canberra, pp. 126-146.
• Smith, J 2004, 'Mothers Milk and Markets', Australian Feminist Studies, vol. 19, no. 45, pp. 369-379.
• Smith, J 2004, 'Momentous or Momentary Tax Reform', in Julie P. Smith (ed.), Taxing Popularity: The Story of Taxation in Australia (2nd ed), Australian Tax Research Foundation, Canberra, pp. 147-191.
• Smith, J 2003, Tax expenditures: the $30 billion twilight zone of government spending, Department of the Parliamentary Library.
• Smith, J 2002, 'Mother's Milk, Money and Markets', in Bryan Furnass (ed.), Good Grub: Food for healthy people and a healthy planet, Nature and Society Forum Inc., Canberra, pp. 101-6.
• Smith, J, Thompson, J & Ellwood, D 2002, 'Hospital system costs of artificial infant feeding: estimates for the Australian Capital Territory', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 543-551.
• Smith, J 2002, 'Redistribution and federal finance', Economic History Review, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 284-311.
• Smith, J & Ingham, L 2001, 'Breast Feeding and the Measurement of Economic Progress', Journal of Australian Political Economy, vol. 47, pp. 51-72.
• Smith, J 2001, 'Progessivity of the Commonwealth Personal Income Tax, 1917-1997', The Australian Economic Review, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 263-278.
• Smith, J 2001, 'Tax Expenditures and Public Health Financing in Australia', The Economic and Labour Relations Review, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 239-62.
• Smith, J 2000, 'Gambling Taxation: Public Equity in the Gambling Business', The Australian Economic Review, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 120-244.
• Smith, J 2000, 'Tax Expenditures and Public Health Financing in Australia', Australia Institute Discussion Paper Number 33, September 2000.
• Smith, J 1999, 'Human Milk Supply in Australia', Food Policy, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 71-91.
• Smith, J 1999, 'Progressing Tax Reform', in Michael Carman and Ian Rogers (ed.), Out of the rut: making labor a genuine alternative, Allen & Unwin, Australia, pp. 95-130.

Projects and Grants

Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.

• The lost mothers milk tool (Primary Investigator)
• Review of effective strategies to promote breastfeeding (Primary Investigator)
• Research to enhance measurement, understanding, and policy regulatory approaches to emerging markets and trade in mothers' milk - Transferred from CAP to RSPH (Primary Investigator)
• To review the evidence assessing the impacts of marketing on the attitudes and behaviors of caregivers of young children. (Primary Investigator)
• Working while breastfeeding: Best practice strategies for workplaces and childcare centres (Primary Investigator)
• Quit in general practice: a cluster randomised trial of enhanced in-practice support for smoking cessation (Secondary Investigator)

Related websites

• http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=9cy3qmIAAAAJ&hl=en
  

  GOOGLE SCHOLAR

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julie_Smith10/contributions/?ev=prf_act
  

  RESEARCHGATE

• http://regnet.anu.edu.au/research/research-projects/details/6275/time-use-survey-new-mothers-tusnm#acton-tabs-link--qt-research_project_details_qtab-ui-tabs2
  

  SCHOOL OF REGULATION AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: TIME USE SURVEY OF AUSTRALIAN MOTHERS

• http://regnet.anu.edu.au/research/research-projects/details/6264/economics-work-and-breastfeeding#acton-tabs-link--qt-research_project_details_qtab-ui-tabs2
  

  SCHOOL OF REGULATION AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: WORK AND BREASTFEEDING

• http://regnet.anu.edu.au/research/research-projects/details/6285/research-enhance-measurement-understanding-and-policy
  

  RESEARCH TO ENHANCE MEASUREMENT, UNDERSTANDING, AND POLICY REGULATORY APPROACHES TO EMERGING MARKETS AND TRADE IN MOTHERS' MILK

   

• http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-health/2019/10/11/investing-in-breastmilk/
  

   

  BLOGS AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

   

  Separating mothers with covid 19 from their newborns does more harm than good

  Andini Pramono, PhD Candidate in Health Services Research and Policy Department, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University; 

  Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University; 

  Jane Desborough, Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, MPH, PhD, and

  Julie P. Smith, Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University

  In several countries pregnant women confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 are being required to have caesarean sections or be separated from their newborn babies to restrict COVID-19 transmission.

  Such measures may help health services better manage COVID-19 caseloads, but what are the consequences, and how do these practices compare with evidence-based global recommendations for maternity care during the pandemic?

  Read more: https://theconversation.com/separating-mothers-with-covid-19-from-their-newborns-does-more-harm-than-good-141291

   

  Investing in breastmilk

  In order to support breastfeeding women, governments must invest in the practice.

  Julie Smith 11 Oct 2019

  In early August 2019, Australian health ministers quietly released a National Breastfeeding Strategy (ANBS). Its bold vision is a society which ‘values’ breastfeeding and doubles its breastfeeding rates. Yet more breastfeeding does not come free. Are governments ‘willing to pay’?

  Read more: http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-health/2019/10/11/investing-in-breastmilk/

• https://theconversation.com/we-dont-know-if-breastfeeding-is-rising-or-falling-in-australia-thats-bad-for-everyone-140549?fbclid=IwAR3LdUy5YctoqIGHkHOP6uFy-Z9Ri6tTNU8pR_EkUv2oK5EU1PbroBfVos0
  

   

  We don’t know if breastfeeding is rising or falling in Australia. That’s bad for everyone

  June 15, 2020 12.42pm AEST 

  Lisa Amir, Professor in Breastfeeding Research, La Trobe University

  Julie P. Smith, Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University

  As the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all too well, good health policy depends on prior planning, decisive action, and a willingness to spend money.

  But there’s another area where Australia’s willingness to plan and spend has fallen far short: monitoring breastfeeding rates.

  A newly released international report reveals that 41% of babies worldwide are exclusively breastfed for their first six months – well short of the World Health Assembly’s target of 50% by 2025. Australian data are missing from the latest report because the infant feeding data have not been collected.

  Breastfeeding is important, just like immunisation. It protects children against illness and disease, such as gastroenteritis and later life diabetes. Women who breastfeed are less likely to suffer breast cancer in later life. Investing in breastfeeding will save the health system money in years to come.

  Read more https://theconversation.com/we-dont-know-if-breastfeeding-is-rising-or-falling-in-australia-thats-bad-for-everyone-140549?fbclid=IwAR3LdUy5YctoqIGHkHOP6uFy-Z9Ri6tTNU8pR_EkUv2oK5EU1PbroBfVos0

• https://theconversation.com/about-that-spare-room-employers-requisitioned-our-homes-and-our-time-139854
  

   

  About that spare room: employers requisitioned our homes and our time

  June 11, 2020 3.08pm AEST

  Julie P. Smith, Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University

  Fiona Jenkins, Associate Professor, Australian National University

  Working from home during COVID-19 appeared to cost us little.

  Yet employers effectively requisitioned part of those homes.

  While necessary, it was far from costless to us, and our generosity shouldn’t be taken for granted.

  Read more https://theconversation.com/about-that-spare-room-employers-requisitioned-our-homes-and-our-time-139854

• http://www.broadagenda.com.au/home/women-are-not-babysitters-for-the-economy
  

   

  Women are not babysitters for the economy

  COVID-19: There are lively discussions going on about the gendered impacts of coronavirus and how so much policy tends to be male-centric. It might not be intentional, but the problem with unconscious bias is it doesn’t see what it doesn’t want to know.

  The current crisis has brought to the forefront the size and importance of the unpaid labour market  to the economy, for example. But Julie Smith argues that the current gender-blind approach to economic management is “like driving a car with the windows all frosted up apart from a small clear space in the windscreen”. It is, she points out, a “disastrously narrow view of where we are going”.

  There has been spirited debate about what the government should be doing, and how quickly it should be doing it, in response to the unprecedented health and economic crisis from COVID 19.

  At the centre of debate is closure of schools and childcare as we are urged – or required – to work at home. Meanwhile female dominated professions at the forefront of the crisis – health care workers, teachers, and childcare providers - are struggling with the dilemmas of their now hazardous work environments. As a frustrated West Australian teacher recently wrote in a local news outlet: “I usually love teaching, but right now I hate the fact that I am a teacher”.

  Teachers are not babysitters for the economy. Keep schools open and [we] are exposed to high-risk behaviours by a beautiful bunch of guileless innocents.

  “We are not babysitters for the economy.

  Read more http://www.broadagenda.com.au/home/women-are-not-babysitters-for-the-economy

• https://www.croakey.org/child-health-is-on-the-line-as-codex-deliberates-food-standards/
  

   

  Child health is on the line as Codex deliberates food standards

  Editor: Marie McInerney

  Author: Julie P Smith, Alex Iellamo & Phillip Baker

  December 14, 2018

  Introduction by Croakey: An investigation published last week by the British Medical Journal has found that infant formula manufacturers have been funding the development of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cows’ milk allergy as well as providing research and consultancy funds to those who wrote them.

  That comes, it reports, amid a six-fold increase in sales of infant formula prescribed for babies with cows’ milk protein allergy in the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2016, despite no evidence of a concurrent increase in the prevalence of infants with the allergy.

  In this timely Croakey #LongRead below, Dr Julie Smith, Alex Iellamo, and Dr Phillip Baker report on how upcoming deliberations by the international Codex Alimentarius (Codex) Commission will shape global and national regulation and marketing of commercial baby food products for decades to come. They detail the massive market inroads that industry has made in recent decades with commercial milk formulas, and the concurrent risks to breastfeeding rates and baby health, and warn that Australia’s position is at risk of too much industry influence, again.

  They conclude:

  "It is time for the World Health Organisation and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation as co-convenors of Codex to admit and confront the deep conflicts of interest which undermine its formulation of global guidance on food regulation for infants and young children.”

  Read more https://www.croakey.org/child-health-is-on-the-line-as-codex-deliberates-food-standards/

• https://www.croakey.org/never-mind-the-trump-administration-australias-record-on-breastfeeding-doesnt-rate-so-highly/
  

   

  Never mind the Trump Administration, Australia’s record on breastfeeding doesn’t rate so highly

  Editor: Melissa Sweet

  Authors: Jen Hocking, Julie Smith, Naomi Hull, and Mary Petersonon: July 11, 2018

  Introduction by Croakey: On 25 May, Lucy Sullivan, executive director of the US-based 1,000 Days organisation, sent out a Twitter thread, warning that a battle over breastfeeding was brewing at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

  She tweeted that the Trump Administration reportedly was using bullying tactics to stop a resolution promoting breastfeeding, including allegedly threatening trade, and that this was having “a chilling effect”.

  In the end, the resolution was presented (by Russia, rather than Ecuador as was originally planned) and supported, albeit with some changes, and Sullivan tweeted that:

  As with other health policy battles, it comes down to public health vs. private profit.

  What is at stake: breastfeeding saves women and children’s lives. It also is bad for the multibillion dollar global infant formula (and dairy) business.”

  Fast forward to 8 July, and a New York Times article – covering much the same ground as Sullivan’s tweets – generated international condemnation of the Trump Administration’s actions, including from the American Public Health Association (see a selection of tweets at the end of the article below). Trump himself disputed the story, tweeting that the NYT article was “fake news”.

  While Australian health organisations and experts have been among those condemning the US actions, the article below reminds Croakey readers that constant vigilance is required to protect breastfeeding from the influence of corporate forces.

  Indeed, a new report card on Australia’s breastfeeding support and policy gives us a “mediocre” rating, report Jen Hocking, a midwifery lecturer and PhD candidate, Associate Professor Julie Smith, an ARC Future Fellow, Naomi Hull, a Lactation Consultant and National Coordinator of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi), and Mary Peterson, a communications specialist who is also a qualified breastfeeding counsellor.

  Read more https://www.croakey.org/never-mind-the-trump-administration-australias-record-on-breastfeeding-doesnt-rate-so-highly/

• https://www.croakey.org/driving-demand-for-baby-milk-the-australian-competition-and-consumers-commissions-gift-to-industry-marketing/
  

   

  Driving demand for baby milk – the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission’s gift to industry marketing?

  Editor: Jennifer Doggett

  Author: Libby Salmon, Julie Smith and Phillip Baker on: November 09, 2015

  Whether it’s not eating enough or eating the wrong sorts of foods, every parent can relate to feeling anxious about their children’s nutritional status at some stage of their lives, particularly during the early childhood years. This anxiety can be exploited in the promotional material from companies which produce baby formula and ‘toddler milks’ which often implies that their products provide a nutritional advantage over natural foods.

  It looks like this advertising has been successful as sales of ‘toddler milks’ are soaring. This is despite the fact that health experts continually promote a clear message that breastfeeding, with the addition of normal family foods as appropriate, is the best diet for babies and toddlers, and a warning from the World Health Organisation that toddler formulas can be harmful and risk over-nutrition.

  While there is clearly a necessity for formulas to be available for parents who are not able or do not want to breastfeed their babies, it is also important that the public health implications of unnecessary formula use are taken into account when regulating the level and content of advertising for these products.

  In the following piece, Libby Salmon, Julie Smith and Phillip Baker, describe the current self-regulatory system for formula advertising and how the industry has resisted global moves to strengthen advertising restrictions. They call on people concerned about this issue to express their views to the ACCC which is currently considering exempting Australian advertisers from additional restrictions for the next ten years. 

  Read more https://www.croakey.org/driving-demand-for-baby-milk-the-australian-competition-and-consumers-commissions-gift-to-industry-marketing/

• https://www.croakey.org/chinas-white-gold-infant-formula-rush-comes-at-a-public-health-cost/
  

   

  China’s ‘white gold’ infant formula rush comes at a public health cost

  Editor: Fron Jackson-Webbon: November 24, 2014

  Karleen Gribble and Julie Smith write: Alongside this week’s announcement of a free trade deal between China and Australia came reports of Gina Rinehart’s investment in a Queensland dairy operation to supply infant formula to China. Australia’s richest woman built her fortune on iron ore, but Rinehart’s A$500 million investment makes her a major player in Australian milk formula exports.

  Infant formula sales in China have increased more than ten-fold over the last decade and will double again in the next […] three years, according to Euromonitor. As foreign-produced infant formula can sell for close to A$100 a tin, investors have been scrambling to get a share of the predicted “white gold rush”.

  But why the boom? 

  Read more https://www.croakey.org/chinas-white-gold-infant-formula-rush-comes-at-a-public-health-cost/

• https://www.croakey.org/marketing-of-milks-for-infants-and-young-children-effective-regulation-is-urgent/
  

   

  Marketing of milks for infants and young children: Effective regulation is urgent

  Editor: Michelle Hugheson: September 17, 2013

  Libby Salmon BVSc, MVCS, Visiting Fellow, ACERH ANU, 

  Julie Smith, PhD. B. Econs (Hons)/B.A

  Joy Heads OAM, Midwife, MHPEd, IBCLC®, FILCA

  Australia may be at the forefront of tobacco control worldwide, but has dropped the ball in relation to global efforts to protect breastfeeding from company marketing.

  This is the implication of a recently released paper in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health  which examined the effectiveness of voluntary regulation by the infant food industry.  The ANU study analysed print advertising of breast milk substitutes in both the Australian Women’s Weekly and the Medical Journal of Australia from 1950 to 2012. It identified an urgent need for comprehensive regulation to protect optimal infant and young child feeding in Australia and in the Asia Pacific region.

  Current regulatory arrangements centre on the 1992 Marketing In Australia of Infant Formula: Manufacturers and Importers Agreement (MAIF Agreement), an industry agreement negotiated between infant formula companies in response to Australia’s signing of the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in 1981 (The WHO Code). Under the Agreement, the companies appoint a representative to a taxpayer-funded panel which monitors industry compliance and also ‘advises the Australian government on the Agreement’. The panel has limited the Agreement to “formula for infants up to 12 months”, and therefore excluded the so-called follow-on formulas including toddler milks which came on the market soon after the MAIF Agreement was signed.

  The researchers concluded that “Companies have adopted strategies to minimise the effects of the Code on sales and profits in Australia, including increasing toddler formula …and brand promotion…to the public.”

  According to the ANU study this situation is in direct contravention of the 2007 ‘Best Start’ federal Parliamentary Inquiry, which recommended implementing the full WHO Code and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions, including by legislation and mandatory enforcement.

  The results beg the questions:

  Is toddler milk covered by the International Code?

  Is toddler milk a necessary food for toddlers?

  Has the government been adequately advised on its implementation of the Best Start recommendation?

  Read more https://www.croakey.org/marketing-of-milks-for-infants-and-young-children-effective-regulation-is-urgent/

• https://climate.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/green-bites-podcast-irelands-white-gold-boom
  

   

  Green Bites podcast - Ireland's White Gold Boom

  Ellie O'Byrne

  30 JULY 2020

  Ireland produces somewhere in the region of 13% of the world’s infant formula, and recent research has revealed that for every kilo of formula produced, the true carbon cost is anywhere between four and 11 kilos of greenhouses gases.  Alongside Australian expert in the economics of infant feeding Dr Julie Smith, who published a paper last year showing that infant formula production produces 4kg of greenhouse gases for every kg of dry formula made, Green Bites takes a deep dive into the environmental and ethical impacts of Ireland’s €1.3 billion White Gold Boom. 

  Listen to the podcast episode here on the Green Bites website, featuring commentary by Dr Julie Smith 

• https://theconversation.com/without-better-regulation-the-global-market-for-breast-milk-will-exploit-mothers-79846
  

   

  Without better regulation, the global market for breast milk will exploit mothers

  Julie P. Smith, Fellow, Australian National University

  July 10, 2017

  Markets in mothers’ milk could be a good or a bad thing for women and their children, depending on how governments respond. Making breast milk more easily available may help more mothers breastfeed, and improve the economics of the situation for women.

  With maternal breastfeeding now promoted as a choice rather than a biological imperative, it is hypocritical and duplicitous for governments to authorise companies to sell breast milk without strengthening the rights of women to breastfeed, sell or share their own milk.

  Read more https://theconversation.com/without-better-regulation-the-global-market-for-breast-milk-will-exploit-mothers-79846

• https://www.thelily.com/breastfeeding-isnt-free-what-if-that-work-was-included-in-the-gdp/
  

   

  Breastfeeding isn’t free. What if that work was included in the GDP?

  ‘What we measure reflects what we value and shapes what we do’

  Stephanie Murray

  July 6 2020

  Of the nearly four million babies born in the United States every year, 4 out of 5 are breastfed at some point. Almost half consume nothing but breast milk for three months. One-quarter consume nothing but breast milk for six months. Breast milk is a vital part of the nation’s infant food supply — and it isn’t free. Six months of exclusive breastfeeding, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, will cost a mother an average of 17 to 20 hours a week, plenty of discomfort, and a lot of sleep. Yet unlike formula, breast milk production is not included in gross domestic product, our primary measure of “the economy.” According to economists Nancy Folbre and Julie P. Smith, it’s not a trivial omission. The exclusion of breastfeeding from GDP is part of a broader problem with international systems for measuring economic activity. These largely ignore the contributions of unpaid work historically undertaken by women. This erasure has real consequences, they say.

  Read more https://www.thelily.com/breastfeeding-isnt-free-what-if-that-work-was-included-in-the-gdp/

• https://theconversation.com/the-national-breastfeeding-strategy-is-a-start-but-if-we-really-valued-breast-milk-wed-put-it-in-the-gdp-121302
  

   

  The National Breastfeeding Strategy is a start, but if we really valued breast milk we’d put it in the GDP

  August 5 2019

  Julie P Smith, Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University

  Australia’s new National Breastfeeding Strategy sets ambitious goals. By 2022 it wants 40% of Australian babies to exclusively breastfeed until they are six months old. At present it’s 25%. By 2025 it wants 50%.

  Beyond that it wants non-exclusive breastfeeding up until at least 12 months of age, and beyond that for as long as both mother and child want.It notes that what’s important is the first 1000 days (from conception to the end of the child’s second year).It quotes with approval a finding that human breast milk is not only a perfectly adapted nutritional supply for the infant, but probably the most specific personalised medicine that he or she is likely to receive, given at a time when gene expression is being fine-tuned for lifeThe goals are welcome. But one of the reasons we need them is because we don’t properly value what is just about our most valuable nutritional resource. Statistically, breast milk is almost invisible.

  Read more https://theconversation.com/the-national-breastfeeding-strategy-is-a-start-but-if-we-really-valued-breast-milk-wed-put-it-in-the-gdp-121302

• https://www.croakey.org/breastfeeding-training-why-health-professionals-arent-getting-enough/
  

   

  Breastfeeding training – why health professionals aren’t getting enough

  Editor: Jennifer Doggett

  Author: Janelle Maree, Naomi Hull, Jen Hocking and Julie Smith

  April 06, 2019

  “Going to have a baby? You might reasonably expect breastfeeding support from health professionals who have received adequate pre-service education, but is that the case?

  The Greens have made a $10 million election promise for better maternity care and breastfeeding support, but how qualified are the health professionals who provide these important services?

  In the post below, Janelle Maree, Naomi Hull, Jen Hocking and Julie Smith report new research helping explain why Australian women are disappointed about help with newborn care and breastfeeding.

  Read more: https://www.croakey.org/breastfeeding-training-why-health-professionals-arent-getting-enough/

• https://rsph.anu.edu.au/phxchange/case-studies/insist-resist-enlist-persist-dr-julie-smith-reflects-lifetime-research-impact
  

  Insist, Resist, Enlist, Persist: Dr Julie Smith reflects on a lifetime of research impact