title: [Breast-milk substitutes: past and present].
abstract: The historical development of industrialized products used as breast-milk, substitutes a process begun in the 18th century, is studied. The marketing strategy currently adopted infant formula companies is stressed and the different commercial practices used in the search for new markets in third world countries are described. A warning is given as to the precise instructions giver for the use of the so-called breast-milk substitutes, and the attention of health professionals and consumer groups is called to the low level of awareness regarding this subject, a factor which led the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund to recommend the preparation of an appropriate marketing code and to its adoption by Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde, Secretaria de Estado, Saúde de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rea
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014886:Weaning
vernacular_title: Substitutos do leite materno: passado e presente.