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The protection of breastfeeding is a human rights issue. It is closely related to the right that babies and mothers have to the highest attainable standard of health, to adequate nutrition and to reliable information. Argentina has incorporated the “International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes” into different regulations in a partial and fragmentary manner, being considered a country “with some provisions of the Code included”. This article is intended to present an assessment of the level of compliance with the rules currently in force in Argentina by corporations as well as by state agencies responsible for enforcement and supervision, focusing on labelling and advertising aspects. The study comprised two different methods for data collection. First, labels found on containers of infant formulas and modified milks for children were collected and analysed according to NetCode Protocol for periodic assessments. Second, ads in digital ecosystem were collected and a content analysis of texts and images was performed. The packages of 54 types of breastmilk substitutes were photographed and examined. 100% of the examined labels of substitutes were in violation of the national rules and regulations and the provisions set forth in the Code. The most frequent reasons were nutrition and/or health claims or declarations, imagery and language idealizing the use of the product, and invitations to make contact with the company. Regarding mandatory texts or designs, violations included the omission, modification, and font size or position that minimizes their presence. In relation to advertising, a database of 440 Instagram and Facebook ads was created. The most profusely advertised products were modified milks for children from 1 year of age, marketed with a figure ‘3’, which constitutes a way of cross-promoting all the line-products. In addition, it was documented that the state agencies involved in approval and control of product labelling and the supervision of advertising either accepted or did nothing about companies’ violations. Moreover, the channels to file complaints were fragmented and usually non-responsive. All of this constitutes a “formula for deception”, an abusive marketing environment. Therefore, currently the major imperative is for Argentina to immediately apply the existing regulations, and to monitor and penalize violations. In the longer term, it is necessary to design a comprehensive law that covers all the provisions of the Code.

Se estima que en Argentina hay un 33% de personas de 18 a 24 años con exceso de peso. Teniendo en cuenta que el ámbito universitario constituye un espacio estratégico para el abordaje de este grupo etario, el objetivo del estudio fue describir la dimensión física y económica de los entornos alimentarios de las universidades argentinas. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal y multicéntrico. Se relevaron 174 edificios universitarios mediante observación no participante y registro en formularios estructurados, considerando las siguientes variables: oferta de agua segura sin costo; oferta de alimentos y bebidas en puntos de expendio; venta ambulante; presencia de publicidad y de mensajes de promoción de salud. RESULTADOS: En el 36% de los edificios no se registró oferta de agua segura gratuita. Se observaron 301 puntos de expendio de alimentos y/o bebidas. En un 93% se ofrecían gaseosas azucaradas, en un 88% agua envasada (con o sin gas) y en un 86% aguas saborizadas azucaradas y gaseosas light. Un análisis cruzado evidenció que la venta de productos promovidos no era un factor determinante para la reducción de la oferta de productos no recomendados o permitidos. CONCLUSIONES: Es importante avanzar en la regulación de los entornos alimentarios en el ámbito universitario, ya que los valores obtenidos resultan alarmantes. Se observa también la necesidad de profundizar en los estándares para la certificación de universidades saludables.

Objective To describe the characteristics of corporate sponsorship during the 21st International Congress of Nutrition provided by food companies, and to analyse the measures proposed by the organizers to deal with prospective conflicts of interest. Design Qualitative study based on participant observation and document analysis. Setting 21st International Congress of Nutrition, Buenos Aires, October 2017. Analysis The nutritional profile of the products advertised in the area of commercial exhibition was analysed according to the PAHO Nutrient Profile Model. The document analysis was based on the grounded theory to propose conceptual categories that organize the narratives on the aforementioned products. Results Large food corporations sponsoring the Congress advertised a selection of their products to health professionals and other participants attending the event. 92% of the exhibited food products were ultra-processed. 85% were high in added sugars, sodium, and/or saturated fats. Despite this unsuitable nutritional profile, narratives to endow ultra-processed products with a health halo were developed through three thematic axes: fortification with micro-nutrients, reformulation of products and symbolic reconversion of snacks by creating a positive assessment and removing negative connotations. The measures adopted by the organization to deal with prospective conflicts of interests included space-time segmentation of activities and the requirement for the lecturers to submit a statement declaring their funding sources limited to each presentation. Space-time restrictions proved insufficient, and the declaration of funding sources was not a requirement for institutions organizing the symposia. Conclusions The influence of corporate sponsorship by food companies in the topics of scientific debate and dietary recommendations leads to questioning the efficacy of the measures adopted by the organizers to deal with the conflicts of interests. Said measures have been characterized as an institutionalized opacity policy. It is necessary to define stricter standards to prevent sponsorship from companies that commercialize unhealthy products and/or that advertise products in an unsuitable way.

Frente a la actual epidemia de obesidad, se problematiza la usual circunscripción del alcance del derecho a la alimentación a las situaciones de malnutrición por déficit. Se plantea que el derecho a la alimentación adecuada resulta vulnerado en los entornos obesogénicos, y que su protección requiere el establecimiento de medidas que regulen la publicidad y las prácticas de comercialización de productos ultraprocesados. Se sostiene que la principal barrera para la implementación de tales medidas la constituyen las estrategias desplegadas por las grandes corporaciones alimentarias. Entre ellas, se destacan las que tienen como objeto y/o como medio a la comunidad científica. Se identifican ciertos supuestos básicos subyacentes en los discursos de profesionales de la salud que contribuyen a crear un marco de legitimación del consumo de productos ultra-procesados. Se sugiere la adopción de un posicionamiento ético, libre de conflictos de intereses, para abogar por las necesarias medidas regulatorias de carácter estatutario.