scienceblogs--2020-03-20--How To Spot Coronavirus Fake News

How To Spot Coronavirus Fake News

The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labelled a dangerous “ infodemic ” .
Fake news spreads faster and more easily today through the internet , social media and instant messaging .
These messages may contain useless , incorrect or even harmful information and advice , which can hamper the public health response and add to social disorder and division .
Confusingly some fake news also contains a mixture of correct information , which makes it difficult to spot what is true and accurate .
Fake news may also be shared by trusted friends and family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses .
They might not have read the full story before sharing or just glanced over it .
Before you decide to share , make sure to read stories properly and follow some checks to determine the accuracy .
If the story appears to claim a much higher level of certainty in its advice and arguments than other stories , this is questionable .
People will be seeking certainty in a time of high uncertainty , anxiety and panic .
So it is only natural to more readily accept information that resolves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , often in a false way .
Similarly , if a story is more surprising or upsetting than other stories it is worth double-checking , as fake news will try to grab your attention by being more exaggerated than real stories .
What to look out for • Source .
Question the source .
References have been made to “ Taiwanese experts ” or “ Japanese doctors ” or “ Stanford University ” during the outbreak .
Check on official websites if stories are repeated there .
If a source is “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a rumour unless you also know the person directly .
• Logo : Check whether any organisation ’ s logo used in the message looks the same as on the official website .
• Bad English : Credible journalists and organisations are less likely to make repeated spelling and grammar mistakes .
Also , anything written entirely in capital letters or containing a lot of exclamation marks should raise your suspicions .
• Pretend social media accounts : Some fake accounts mimic the real thing .
For example , the unofficial Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look like the legitimate @ BBCNews account , shared a fake story about the actor Daniel Radcliffe testing positive for coronavirus .
Media platforms try to remove or flag fake accounts and stories as well as verify real ones .
Look out for what their policies are to try to do this .
• Over-encouragement to share : Be wary if the message presses you to share – this is how viral messaging works .
• Use fact-checking websites : Websites such as APFactCheck and Full Fact highlight common fake news stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engine to look up the title of the article to see if it has been identified as fake news by the mainstream media .
The best sources to go to for health information about COVID-19 are your government health websites and the World Health Organization website .
Primary sources are generally better than news articles .
Even government messaging and the mainstream media can get things wrong , but they are more trustworthy than unverified sources on social media and viral messaging .
For instance , The Conversation is a more trusted source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are experts in their fields .
Charlatans have been promoting false preventions and cures for people to spend their money on .
For example , the New York attorney general has had to send cease and desist notices for claims that toothpaste , dietary supplements and creams will prevent and cure COVID-19 .
The effects can also be more serious than losing some cash .
Iran has reported at least 44 people died from alcohol poisoning after drinking bootleg alcohol in a misguided attempt to cure COVID-19 .
Unfortunately , the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not offer a miracle or special insight .
Wash your hands often ( use hand sanitisers if you can not ) , avoid touching your face , and sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow or a tissue ( and throw it away in a bag-lined bin ) .
Avoid crowds and public places , keep a sensible distance from people , and do not travel unless absolutely necessary .
Now many governments are introducing measures including travel bans and quarantines that need to be followed to protect the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We can all get caught out .
Think twice about the messages currently circulating and help guide your family and friends to decide what to trust .
By Samantha Vanderslott , Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Sciences , University of Oxford .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labelled a dangerous “infodemic”. Fake news spreads faster and more easily today through the internet, social media and instant messaging. These messages may contain useless, incorrect or even harmful information and advice, which can hamper the public health response and add to social disorder and division.
Confusingly some fake news also contains a mixture of correct information, which makes it difficult to spot what is true and accurate. Fake news may also be shared by trusted friends and family, including those who are doctors and nurses. They might not have read the full story before sharing or just glanced over it. Before you decide to share, make sure to read stories properly and follow some checks to determine the accuracy.
If the story appears to claim a much higher level of certainty in its advice and arguments than other stories, this is questionable. People will be seeking certainty in a time of high uncertainty, anxiety and panic. So it is only natural to more readily accept information that resolves, reassures and provides easy solutions – unfortunately, often in a false way.
Similarly, if a story is more surprising or upsetting than other stories it is worth double-checking, as fake news will try to grab your attention by being more exaggerated than real stories.
What to look out for
Source. Question the source. References have been made to “Taiwanese experts” or “Japanese doctors” or “Stanford University” during the outbreak. Check on official websites if stories are repeated there. If a source is “a friend of a friend”, this is a rumour unless you also know the person directly.
Logo: Check whether any organisation’s logo used in the message looks the same as on the official website.
Bad English: Credible journalists and organisations are less likely to make repeated spelling and grammar mistakes. Also, anything written entirely in capital letters or containing a lot of exclamation marks should raise your suspicions.
Pretend social media accounts: Some fake accounts mimic the real thing. For example, the unofficial Twitter handle @BBCNewsTonight, which was made to look like the legitimate @BBCNews account, shared a fake story about the actor Daniel Radcliffe testing positive for coronavirus. Media platforms try to remove or flag fake accounts and stories as well as verify real ones. Look out for what their policies are to try to do this.
Over-encouragement to share: Be wary if the message presses you to share – this is how viral messaging works.
Use fact-checking websites: Websites such as APFactCheck and Full Fact highlight common fake news stories. You can also use a search engine to look up the title of the article to see if it has been identified as fake news by the mainstream media.
Who to trust
The best sources to go to for health information about COVID-19 are your government health websites and the World Health Organization website. Primary sources are generally better than news articles.
Even government messaging and the mainstream media can get things wrong, but they are more trustworthy than unverified sources on social media and viral messaging. For instance, The Conversation is a more trusted source because all content is written by academics who are experts in their fields.
A time of high uncertainty. How Hwee Young/EPA
Charlatans have been promoting false preventions and cures for people to spend their money on. For example, the New York attorney general has had to send cease and desist notices for claims that toothpaste, dietary supplements and creams will prevent and cure COVID-19.
The effects can also be more serious than losing some cash. Iran has reported at least 44 people died from alcohol poisoning after drinking bootleg alcohol in a misguided attempt to cure COVID-19.
Unfortunately, the most basic and correct advice given so far does not offer a miracle or special insight. Wash your hands often (use hand sanitisers if you cannot), avoid touching your face, and sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow or a tissue (and throw it away in a bag-lined bin). Avoid crowds and public places, keep a sensible distance from people, and do not travel unless absolutely necessary. Now many governments are introducing measures including travel bans and quarantines that need to be followed to protect the health of everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
We can all get caught out. Think twice about the messages currently circulating and help guide your family and friends to decide what to trust.
By Samantha Vanderslott, Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Sciences, University of Oxford. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


scienceblogs--2020-02-14--Coronavirus Isn't a Pandemic, But That Doesn't Change Its Relative Risk

Is the coronavirus a pandemic , and does that matter ?
4 questions answered The new coronavirus has now affected more than 20,000 people in China and claimed more lives as of Feb. 4 than the SARS epidemic from 2002 to 2004 .
Hong Kong has reported its first death .
Some public health officials have said the outbreak is likely to soon be a pandemic , but the World Health Organization said Feb. 4 that it isn ’ t , yet .
Just what is a pandemic anyway ?
An epidemiologist and public health researcher explains .
When a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international boarders and spreads across a wide region , we public health professionals typically call it a pandemic .
The term “ pandemic ” tells us that the outbreak is occurring in many places but says nothing about its severity .
Because of their wide geographic distribution , pandemics usually affect a large number of people .
While we usually think of pandemics in relation to serious , life-threatening diseases , even outbreaks of mild diseases could cross borders and become pandemics .
2 .
Does it matter if it is or isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outbreak a pandemic is simply a reflection of where the disease is spreading .
The terminology doesn ’ t change anything about the severity of the disease or how we are responding .
Since the day the outbreak was identified , health officials worldwide have been taking steps to isolate ill people to try and prevent any spread and quarantine people who have traveled to certain areas of China .
The World Health Organization declared it to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern Jan. 30 , which improves information sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions will continue no matter what it is called .
Flight attendants check temperatures of passengers aboard an Air China flight from Melbourne to Beijing on Feb. 4 , 2020 .
AP Photo/Andy Wong 3 .
Would it being a pandemic put me at greater risk ?
Your risk wouldn ’ t changed simply because of a change in terminology .
Though the virus has been identified in 23 countries as of Feb. 4 , over 99 % of the cases have occurred in China .
Local transmission outside of China has generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with ill travelers from China .
In a cluster reported from Germany , several employees of a company were infected by a co-worker who returned from travel to China , and one of the employees infected one of their children .
This clearly shows that person-to-person spread is possible , but it doesn ’ t mean that the disease is spreading extensively in the community .
Even if an outbreak is spreading worldwide , how it is spreading locally and how people respond is what determines your risk .
4 .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts and health care workers will continue to respond to this outbreak as they have for the last month .
Doctors and nurses in the community will continue to quickly identify ill people and test them for the coronavirus .
Sick people will be isolated so that they don ’ t spread their illness to their family , friends or co-workers .
Public health officials will track the spread of this outbreak and will use that information to prevent the spread of the disease in the community .
The next move is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labus , Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , University of Nevada , Las Vegas .
Labus received past funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for disease surveillance activities while working at the local health department .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Is the coronavirus a pandemic, and does that matter? 4 questions answered
The new coronavirus has now affected more than 20,000 people in China and claimed more lives as of Feb. 4 than the SARS epidemic from 2002 to 2004. Hong Kong has reported its first death. Some public health officials have said the outbreak is likely to soon be a pandemic, but the World Health Organization said Feb. 4 that it isn’t, yet.
Just what is a pandemic anyway? An epidemiologist and public health researcher explains.
1. What is a pandemic?
When a disease outbreak, or epidemic, crosses international boarders and spreads across a wide region, we public health professionals typically call it a pandemic. The term “pandemic” tells us that the outbreak is occurring in many places but says nothing about its severity.
Because of their wide geographic distribution, pandemics usually affect a large number of people. While we usually think of pandemics in relation to serious, life-threatening diseases, even outbreaks of mild diseases could cross borders and become pandemics.
2. Does it matter if it is or isn’t called a pandemic?
Calling an outbreak a pandemic is simply a reflection of where the disease is spreading. The terminology doesn’t change anything about the severity of the disease or how we are responding.
Since the day the outbreak was identified, health officials worldwide have been taking steps to isolate ill people to try and prevent any spread and quarantine people who have traveled to certain areas of China. The World Health Organization declared it to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern Jan. 30, which improves information sharing and coordination throughout the world.
These actions will continue no matter what it is called.
Flight attendants check temperatures of passengers aboard an Air China flight from Melbourne to Beijing on Feb. 4, 2020. AP Photo/Andy Wong
3. Would it being a pandemic put me at greater risk?
Your risk wouldn’t changed simply because of a change in terminology. Though the virus has been identified in 23 countries as of Feb. 4, over 99% of the cases have occurred in China.
Local transmission outside of China has generally been limited to people who had direct contact with ill travelers from China. In a cluster reported from Germany, several employees of a company were infected by a co-worker who returned from travel to China, and one of the employees infected one of their children. This clearly shows that person-to-person spread is possible, but it doesn’t mean that the disease is spreading extensively in the community.
Even if an outbreak is spreading worldwide, how it is spreading locally and how people respond is what determines your risk.
4. So what happens next?
Public and global health experts and health care workers will continue to respond to this outbreak as they have for the last month. Doctors and nurses in the community will continue to quickly identify ill people and test them for the coronavirus. Sick people will be isolated so that they don’t spread their illness to their family, friends or co-workers. Public health officials will track the spread of this outbreak and will use that information to prevent the spread of the disease in the community.
The next move is up to the virus.
By Brian Labus, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Labus received past funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for disease surveillance activities while working at the local health department. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


scienceblogs--2020-09-24--Fork-Tailed Flycatchers Make Sounds With Their Feathers in Different Accents

( Inside Science ) -- The fork-tailed flycatcher whistles with its wings in two different accents , potentially more evidence this bird is splitting into two species , a new study finds .
Birds are known for the songs they can sing , but dozens of species also use their feathers to generate sounds .
For instance , peacocks can rattle their quills together , and the crested pigeon 's wings whistle when they fly .
In the new study , researchers investigated fork-tailed flycatchers -- 1-ounce birds found throughout the Americas that resemble black-and-gray swallows .
The males sport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attract mates , and they also spread these giant feathers to help turn sharply while hunting by using the plumes as air brakes , said study lead author Valentina Gómez-Bahamón , an evolutionary biologist at the Field Museum in Chicago .
When these birds fly -- sometimes as fast as 65 miles per hour -- they produce a high-pitched trill .
Males often fly quickly when they fight each other during mating season , Gómez-Bahamón noted .
The birds also fly quickly when fighting off intruders near their nests .
The scientists studied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a migratory one that breeds in the southern part of South America but spends winter closer to the equator , and a nonmigratory one that spends the whole year in the northern part of the continent .
The scientists first captured the birds with `` mist nets '' -- fine webbing stretched between two poles like a volleyball net -- and recorded audio and video of them as they flew away after they were released .
The researchers also set up a taxidermy hawk in a field with a hidden camera , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack , the researchers recorded how the flycatchers ’ feathers moved and what sounds they made .
The whole project took three years .
`` Recording a fast-flying fighting bird is really hard , '' Gómez-Bahamón said .
`` It took many attempts . ''
The audio and video footage , as well as experiments with fork-tailed flycatcher plumes in a wind tunnel , revealed the birds create these trills with fluttering feathers .
Airflow causes these plumes to vibrate with short repetitive whistles , much like the sounds one can whistle using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her colleagues discovered the migratory subspecies made higher-pitched trills with their feathers than their nonmigratory cousins .
The migrating males possess wing feathers with skinnier tips than those of their homebody brethren .
These may have evolved to make it easier to fly longer distances .
The researchers suggested a group of migratory fork-tailed flycatchers ceased to be migratory , and as their wing feathers thickened because they no longer made long journeys , they ended up sounding different from those of their migratory relatives .
`` This is super-challenging work -- these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're not tame , '' said evolutionary ornithologist Richard Prum at Yale University , who did not take part in this research .
`` I was amazed at the detail of the analysis they were capable of doing . ''
Aside from escapes and fights , males of both subspecies trill with their wings in the early morning when it is still dark , likely as displays to females , Gómez-Bahamón said .
The birds sing songs , are quiet for a moment , and then perform a short flight where one can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may help the birds communicate during mating season , Gómez-Bahamón and her colleagues suggest the feather “ accents ” they found may help further drive the subspecies apart .
Eventually , the two types of flycatchers may evolve into fully separate species that can not interbreed with one another .
`` Differences in migratory behavior can cascade to other behavioral traits , '' Gómez-Bahamón said .
Future research will investigate whether related species display similar behavior .
The scientists will also explore whether female fork-tailed flycatchers prefer sounds from males of their subspecies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Areta at the Institute of Bio and Geosciences of Northwest Argentina , who did not participate in this study , wonders how preventing the birds from making feather trills might influence mate choice .
`` Answering these exciting questions is difficult , and requires a lot of carefully designed field experiments , '' he said .
The scientists detailed their findings Sept. 22 in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology .
Charles Q. Choi is a science reporter who has written for Scientific American , The New York Times , Wired , Science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among others .
Reprinted with permission from Inside Science , an editorially independent news product of the American Institute of Physics , a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing , promoting and serving the physical sciences .

(Inside Science) -- The fork-tailed flycatcher whistles with its wings in two different accents, potentially more evidence this bird is splitting into two species, a new study finds.
Birds are known for the songs they can sing, but dozens of species also use their feathers to generate sounds. For instance, peacocks can rattle their quills together, and the crested pigeon's wings whistle when they fly.
In the new study, researchers investigated fork-tailed flycatchers -- 1-ounce birds found throughout the Americas that resemble black-and-gray swallows. The males sport foot-long scissor-shaped tails as ornaments to help attract mates, and they also spread these giant feathers to help turn sharply while hunting by using the plumes as air brakes, said study lead author Valentina Gómez-Bahamón, an evolutionary biologist at the Field Museum in Chicago.
When these birds fly -- sometimes as fast as 65 miles per hour -- they produce a high-pitched trill. Males often fly quickly when they fight each other during mating season, Gómez-Bahamón noted. The birds also fly quickly when fighting off intruders near their nests.
The scientists studied two known subspecies of fork-tailed flycatchers: a migratory one that breeds in the southern part of South America but spends winter closer to the equator, and a nonmigratory one that spends the whole year in the northern part of the continent.
The scientists first captured the birds with "mist nets" -- fine webbing stretched between two poles like a volleyball net -- and recorded audio and video of them as they flew away after they were released. The researchers also set up a taxidermy hawk in a field with a hidden camera, and when the fork-tailed flycatchers swooped in to attack, the researchers recorded how the flycatchers’ feathers moved and what sounds they made. The whole project took three years.
"Recording a fast-flying fighting bird is really hard," Gómez-Bahamón said. "It took many attempts."
The audio and video footage, as well as experiments with fork-tailed flycatcher plumes in a wind tunnel, revealed the birds create these trills with fluttering feathers. Airflow causes these plumes to vibrate with short repetitive whistles, much like the sounds one can whistle using a blade of grass.
Gómez-Bahamón and her colleagues discovered the migratory subspecies made higher-pitched trills with their feathers than their nonmigratory cousins.
The migrating males possess wing feathers with skinnier tips than those of their homebody brethren. These may have evolved to make it easier to fly longer distances. The researchers suggested a group of migratory fork-tailed flycatchers ceased to be migratory, and as their wing feathers thickened because they no longer made long journeys, they ended up sounding different from those of their migratory relatives.
"This is super-challenging work -- these birds are really aerial, and they're not tame," said evolutionary ornithologist Richard Prum at Yale University, who did not take part in this research. "I was amazed at the detail of the analysis they were capable of doing."
Aside from escapes and fights, males of both subspecies trill with their wings in the early morning when it is still dark, likely as displays to females, Gómez-Bahamón said. The birds sing songs, are quiet for a moment, and then perform a short flight where one can hear the fluttering.
Since wing fluttering may help the birds communicate during mating season, Gómez-Bahamón and her colleagues suggest the feather “accents” they found may help further drive the subspecies apart. Eventually, the two types of flycatchers may evolve into fully separate species that cannot interbreed with one another. "Differences in migratory behavior can cascade to other behavioral traits," Gómez-Bahamón said.
Future research will investigate whether related species display similar behavior. The scientists will also explore whether female fork-tailed flycatchers prefer sounds from males of their subspecies, Gómez-Bahamón said. Ornithologist Juan Ignacio Areta at the Institute of Bio and Geosciences of Northwest Argentina, who did not participate in this study, wonders how preventing the birds from making feather trills might influence mate choice. "Answering these exciting questions is difficult, and requires a lot of carefully designed field experiments," he said.
The scientists detailed their findings Sept. 22 in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Charles Q. Choi is a science reporter who has written for Scientific American, The New York Times, Wired, Science, Nature, and National Geographic News, among others. Reprinted with permission from Inside Science, an editorially independent news product of the American Institute of Physics, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing, promoting and serving the physical sciences.


scienceblogs--2020-09-30--Greenland Could Lose Ice Faster Than Any Century Since The Last Ice Age Ended

A new estimate using sheet modeling finds that Greenland 's rate of ice loss this century could outpace that of any century over the past 12,000 years , when the last Ice Age ended .
Scientists used reconstructions of ancient climate to drive the model , and validated the model against real-world measurements of the ice sheet 's contemporary and ancient size .
The study brought together climate modelers , ice core scientists , remote sensing experts and paleoclimate researchers .
The team used an ice sheet model to simulate changes to the southwestern sector of the Greenland Ice Sheet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holocene epoch 12,000 years ago and extending forward 80 years to 2100 .
Data came from ice cores to create maps of temperatures and precipitation in the study region that were used to drive the ice sheet model simulations up to the year 1850 while other published climate data were used to drive the simulations after that date .
Scientists tested the model 's accuracy by comparing results of the model 's simulations to historical measurements .
The modeled results matched up well with data tied to actual measurements of the ice sheet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent decades , and with field work identifying the ice sheet 's ancient boundaries .
`` We built an extremely detailed geologic history of how the margin of the southwestern Greenland Ice Sheet moved through time by measuring beryllium-10 in boulders that sit on moraines , '' says co-author Nicolás Young , PhD , associate research professor at LDEO .
`` Moraines are large piles of debris that you can find on the landscape that mark the former edge of an ice sheet or glacier .
A beryllium-10 measurement tells you how long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , and therefore tells you when the ice sheet was at that exact spot and deposited that boulder .
Amazingly , the model reproduced the geologic reconstruction really well .
This gave us confidence that the ice sheet model was performing well and giving us meaningful results .
You can model anything you want and your model will always spit out an answer , but we need some way to determine if the model is doing a good job . ''
Though the project focused on southwestern Greenland , research shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there tend to correspond tightly with changes across the entire ice sheet .

A new estimate using sheet modeling finds that Greenland's rate of ice loss this century could outpace that of any century over the past 12,000 years, when the last Ice Age ended.
Scientists used reconstructions of ancient climate to drive the model, and validated the model against real-world measurements of the ice sheet's contemporary and ancient size.
The study brought together climate modelers, ice core scientists, remote sensing experts and paleoclimate researchers. The team used an ice sheet model to simulate changes to the southwestern sector of the Greenland Ice Sheet, starting from the beginning of the Holocene epoch 12,000 years ago and extending forward 80 years to 2100. Data came from ice cores to create maps of temperatures and precipitation in the study region that were used to drive the ice sheet model simulations up to the year 1850 while other published climate data were used to drive the simulations after that date.
Infographic describing the study's findings. Image: Bob Wilder / University at Buffalo
Scientists tested the model's accuracy by comparing results of the model's simulations to historical measurements. The modeled results matched up well with data tied to actual measurements of the ice sheet made by satellites and aerial surveys in recent decades, and with field work identifying the ice sheet's ancient boundaries.
"We built an extremely detailed geologic history of how the margin of the southwestern Greenland Ice Sheet moved through time by measuring beryllium-10 in boulders that sit on moraines," says co-author Nicolás Young, PhD, associate research professor at LDEO. "Moraines are large piles of debris that you can find on the landscape that mark the former edge of an ice sheet or glacier. A beryllium-10 measurement tells you how long that boulder and moraine have been sitting there, and therefore tells you when the ice sheet was at that exact spot and deposited that boulder. Amazingly, the model reproduced the geologic reconstruction really well. This gave us confidence that the ice sheet model was performing well and giving us meaningful results. You can model anything you want and your model will always spit out an answer, but we need some way to determine if the model is doing a good job."
Though the project focused on southwestern Greenland, research shows that changes in the rates of ice loss there tend to correspond tightly with changes across the entire ice sheet.


scienceblogs--2020-12-07--The Increase in Infant Milk Formulas and Why It Matters

Breastfeeding can play an especially important role in early-life nutrition .
It can benefit children ’ s future school performance and economic prospects in later life , as well as the mother ’ s health .
Health authorities across the world endorse the World Health Organization ’ s ( WHO ) recommendation that newborns should where possible exclusively breastfeed from the first hour of life until six months of age , and thereafter receive safe and nutritious foods with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond .
Despite this , our recent study shows that global commercial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2005 and 2019 , world milk formula sales more than doubled from 3.5kg to 7.4kg per child .
Total sales grew from 1 million tonnes to 2.1 million tonnes .
This growth in sales was seen in all types of formula , including “ standard ” formula for infants ( 0-6 months ) , “ follow-up ” formula ( 7-12 months ) , toddler milks ( 13-36 months ) , and so-called “ specialised ” formulas .
So more children from a wider range of age groups are consuming formula .
Rapid growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the Middle East , north Africa , eastern Europe , central Asia , and parts of Latin America .
The most remarkable growth has been in east and south-east Asia .
China , in particular , accounted for only 14 % of global formula sales in 2005 – but now accounts for 33 % of all sales .
In south Asia and west and central Africa , the amount sold to each customer remains low and show no signs of growth .
In Europe and North America , although per customer sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly decreased between 2005-2019 .
Infant formula sales have doubled between 2005 and 2019 .
279photo Studio/ Shutterstock There are medical reasons for using safe and adequate breastmilk substitutes .
And some women find continuing breastfeeding difficult depending on their circumstances , and may use formula as an alternative or complement to breastfeeding .
Our study also shows decisions and practices around formula use can be strongly shaped by wider societal forces , such as commercial marketing , rather than individual choice .
It ’ s known that milk formula sales increase as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as more mothers enter into formal employment .
Asia ’ s formula sales boom may be partly explained by millions of women entering the paid workforce , especially in the region ’ s vast manufacturing zones .
Millions of women worldwide also lack adequate paid maternity leave and social protection .
This means the decision to formula feed may only be done out of necessity , to avoid losing employment and income .
We also know that many hospitals and healthcare settings aren ’ t equipped to help women establish breastfeeding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide meeting standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and newborns .
Commercial factors are also important .
Just five companies control 57 % of the global formula milk industry , worth US $ 56.6 billion ( £42.5 billion ) The industry spends an estimated US $ 5 billion on marketing every year , which powerfully shapes social norms about feeding babies and children .
Marketing messages can portray formula as modern , scientific and comparable or superior to breastmilk .
The growth of social media enables companies to target mothers with personalised product @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key marketing channel , too .
Companies often engage health professionals to promote formula feeding .
In many countries , health professionals are directly compensated to promote formula .
But more commonly , companies influence health professionals indirectly by sponsoring their associations , conferences and education .
Companies cross-promote products by using the same packaging .
ValeStock/ Shutterstock Companies also cross-promote their entire product range of follow-up and toddler milks by using packing and labelling that resembles standard infant formula .
This allows companies to get around the stricter prohibitions on infant formula @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The fact that formula sales are booming in China but have flat-lined at low levels in India partly reflects contrasting regulatory environments – with regulations on marketing being stricter and more comprehensive in India .
Despite an international code to stop aggressive and inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes , most governments haven ’ t fully incorporated it into law .
And even when laws exist , marketing violations by formula companies often go unpunished .
The formula industry has also been able to lobby against any strengthening of regulation , partly by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate policies on marketing .
Breastmilk and breastfeeding where it is possible has numerous advantages over formula and bottle feeding – which is why the growth of formula sales is concerning .
Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the likelihood of children developing infections , and reduces a child ’ s risk of developing chronic disease like obesity and diabetes later in life .
Breastfeeding is also associated with lower risk of developing breast and cervical cancer , or diabetes among mothers .
Rising consumption of formula milk by toddlers and young children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products are often ultra-processed , expensive , loaded with sugar and can introduce poor dietary habits .
Their increased use could further contribute to increases of overweight and obese children globally .
Formula isn ’ t a sterile product and can be dangerous when prepared in unhygienic conditions , or when over-diluted or over-concentrated .
It lacks the immune-boosting and other important elements of breastmilk , further increasing the risk of malnutrition and infectious illness .
As a result , universal breastfeeding in place of formula use could prevent an estimated 823,000 child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and middle-income countries ) , including 595,000 deaths from diarrhoea and pneumonia , and an estimated 20,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer ( mainly in high income countries ) .
The global surge in formula sales is clearly a problem for global health .
Given the power of the corporate milk formula industry to influence behaviour and understanding , more needs to be done to ensure that all mothers and children are protected from inappropriate promotion , and that they are enabled to breastfeed as long as they want to .
This means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , expanding access to paid maternity leave , and ensuring that all healthcare facilities meet global standards .
David McCoy , Professor of Global Public Health , Queen Mary University of London ; Julie P. Smith , Honorary Associate Professor , Australian National University , and Phillip Baker , Research Fellow , Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition , Deakin University , Deakin University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Breastfeeding can play an especially important role in early-life nutrition. It can benefit children’s future school performance and economic prospects in later life, as well as the mother’s health.
Health authorities across the world endorse the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation that newborns should where possible exclusively breastfeed from the first hour of life until six months of age, and thereafter receive safe and nutritious foods with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond.
Despite this, our recent study shows that global commercial milk formula sales are booming. Between 2005 and 2019, world milk formula sales more than doubled from 3.5kg to 7.4kg per child. Total sales grew from 1 million tonnes to 2.1 million tonnes.
This growth in sales was seen in all types of formula, including “standard” formula for infants (0-6 months), “follow-up” formula (7-12 months), toddler milks (13-36 months), and so-called “specialised” formulas. So more children from a wider range of age groups are consuming formula.
Rapid growth has occurred in many highly-populated countries, including the Middle East, north Africa, eastern Europe, central Asia, and parts of Latin America. The most remarkable growth has been in east and south-east Asia. China, in particular, accounted for only 14% of global formula sales in 2005 – but now accounts for 33% of all sales.
In south Asia and west and central Africa, the amount sold to each customer remains low and show no signs of growth. In Europe and North America, although per customer sales volumes remain high, they plateaued or slightly decreased between 2005-2019.
Infant formula sales have doubled between 2005 and 2019. 279photo Studio/ Shutterstock
There are medical reasons for using safe and adequate breastmilk substitutes. And some women find continuing breastfeeding difficult depending on their circumstances, and may use formula as an alternative or complement to breastfeeding. Our study also shows decisions and practices around formula use can be strongly shaped by wider societal forces, such as commercial marketing, rather than individual choice.
It’s known that milk formula sales increase as countries become richer and more urbanised, and as more mothers enter into formal employment. Asia’s formula sales boom may be partly explained by millions of women entering the paid workforce, especially in the region’s vast manufacturing zones.
Millions of women worldwide also lack adequate paid maternity leave and social protection. This means the decision to formula feed may only be done out of necessity, to avoid losing employment and income. We also know that many hospitals and healthcare settings aren’t equipped to help women establish breastfeeding, with few maternal and newborn care facilities worldwide meeting standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and newborns.
Commercial factors are also important. Just five companies control 57% of the global formula milk industry, worth US$56.6 billion (£42.5 billion) The industry spends an estimated US$5 billion on marketing every year, which powerfully shapes social norms about feeding babies and children.
Marketing messages can portray formula as modern, scientific and comparable or superior to breastmilk. The growth of social media enables companies to target mothers with personalised product offerings and ads.
Hospitals are a key marketing channel, too. Companies often engage health professionals to promote formula feeding. In many countries, health professionals are directly compensated to promote formula. But more commonly, companies influence health professionals indirectly by sponsoring their associations, conferences and education.
Companies cross-promote products by using the same packaging. ValeStock/ Shutterstock
Companies also cross-promote their entire product range of follow-up and toddler milks by using packing and labelling that resembles standard infant formula. This allows companies to get around the stricter prohibitions on infant formula marketing.
Marketing regulations are also important. The fact that formula sales are booming in China but have flat-lined at low levels in India partly reflects contrasting regulatory environments – with regulations on marketing being stricter and more comprehensive in India.
Despite an international code to stop aggressive and inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes, most governments haven’t fully incorporated it into law. And even when laws exist, marketing violations by formula companies often go unpunished. The formula industry has also been able to lobby against any strengthening of regulation, partly by promoting their own – much weaker – corporate policies on marketing.
Health concerns
Breastmilk and breastfeeding where it is possible has numerous advantages over formula and bottle feeding – which is why the growth of formula sales is concerning.
Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the likelihood of children developing infections, and reduces a child’s risk of developing chronic disease like obesity and diabetes later in life. Breastfeeding is also associated with lower risk of developing breast and cervical cancer, or diabetes among mothers.
Rising consumption of formula milk by toddlers and young children is also a worry, as these products are often ultra-processed, expensive, loaded with sugar and can introduce poor dietary habits. Their increased use could further contribute to increases of overweight and obese children globally.
Formula isn’t a sterile product and can be dangerous when prepared in unhygienic conditions, or when over-diluted or over-concentrated. It lacks the immune-boosting and other important elements of breastmilk, further increasing the risk of malnutrition and infectious illness. As a result, universal breastfeeding in place of formula use could prevent an estimated 823,000 child deaths every year (mainly in low- and middle-income countries), including 595,000 deaths from diarrhoea and pneumonia, and an estimated 20,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer (mainly in high income countries).
The global surge in formula sales is clearly a problem for global health. Given the power of the corporate milk formula industry to influence behaviour and understanding, more needs to be done to ensure that all mothers and children are protected from inappropriate promotion, and that they are enabled to breastfeed as long as they want to. This means strengthening laws that ban harmful marketing practices, expanding access to paid maternity leave, and ensuring that all healthcare facilities meet global standards.
David McCoy, Professor of Global Public Health, Queen Mary University of London; Julie P. Smith, Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University, and Phillip Baker, Research Fellow, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Deakin University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.