This study examined implementation of the Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (the Code) in Vietnam with a focus on marketing practices by the baby food industry and perceptions of caregivers, health workers, and policy makers.

Guidance documents from 33 countries on newborn care for infants whose mothers are diagnosed with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were assessed for alignment with WHO recommendations, revealing considerable inconsistencies.

An analysis reveals that breastmilk substitutes companies are using health claims, misinformation about breastfeeding, digital marketing, and promotional tactics such as donations and services to capitalize on families’ COVID-19 fears to undermine breastfeeding and sell products.

Breastmilk substitute (BMS) companies are targeting mothers using aggressive and unethical marketing strategies that violate the WHO Code in both urban and rural areas in China, this study reveals.

A review of editorial content, advertisements, and Facebook posts from 2015-2016 in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam revealed inappropriate promotion and insufficient national regulation of breastmilk substitutes in the region.