Governments Urged to Promote Breastfeeding and Counter Baby Food Lobby

As of August 2025, Dr. Sadhana Kala, a highly accomplished surgeon and fertility specialist, is calling on governments to take action in promoting breastfeeding and countering the powerful baby food industry. Kala, who has received numerous accolades and holds prestigious positions, including serving as the youngest-ever professor in a medical college, is a strong advocate for the benefits of breastfeeding.

Kala's message is clear: breastfeeding, which has been the norm since human evolution, is the best option for infants, providing a range of health advantages. However, the rise of commercial baby food, which became popular after the Industrial Revolution, has led to a decline in breastfeeding, especially in the developed world. The global baby food market is estimated to reach a staggering $137 billion by 2034, and this wealthy industry has the resources to promote its interests and influence public perception.

Governments, Kala argues, are the only entities with the resources to counterbalance the baby food lobby and educate the public on the merits of breastfeeding. These benefits include reduced risks of respiratory infections, diarrhea, asthma, and type 1 diabetes for the baby, as well as health advantages for the mother, such as decreased postpartum depression and a lower risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Kala emphasizes that governments must take decisive action to promote breastfeeding, make the public aware of its benefits, and ensure the availability of skilled breastfeeding counselors to guide new mothers. By doing so, they can not only improve the health and well-being of infants and mothers but also generate significant economic benefits, with increased breastfeeding rates estimated to save 820,000 children's lives and generate an additional $302 billion in income globally each year.