Thailand Backs Breastfeeding, Surveys Public Support for Infant Formula Law

The Department of Health, alongside government, academic, private sector, civil society, and community partners, is campaigning to promote breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week and Thailand's National Mother's Day 2025. Breastfeeding strengthens infant immunity, supports growth, and develops the child's brain, with the World Health Organization recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, continuing alongside appropriate foods until age two or beyond.

Dr. Amphorn Benjapol, Department of Health director-general, announced findings from a March 2025 health awareness survey of 874 respondents on the Infant and Young Child Food Marketing Control Act. Only 34.44% had heard of and partially understood the law, 28.72% had heard but lacked details, 21.74% clearly grasped its essence, and 15.10% were unaware of it entirely. When asked about the law's purpose, 52.97% correctly identified it as controlling advertising and marketing of infant and young child food, though 3.66% mistakenly thought it supported company marketing and 10.76% were uncertain.

On regulated products, 58.24% correctly identified infant formula, 48.63% named supplementary infant food, and 38.10% mentioned formula stages 1-3, but 16.36% incorrectly believed it controlled no specific products. A strong majority of 76.54% rightly understood the law's intent: protecting infants from marketing influence, reducing misleading advertising, and supporting breastfeeding. On attitudes, 57.44% saw the law as beneficial for child and family health, 19.45% saw both benefits and limitations, and only 2.40% viewed it as a burden on businesses. The survey also found that over 73% of the public believed advertising significantly influenced purchasing decisions, reflecting marketing's substantial impact on consumer behavior.