30 SECOND GUIDE: INFANT FORMULA

Updated: 04:34 EST, 24 April 2012

Big deal: Nestle has bought infant formula Pfizer Nutrition

The Daily Mail City team explains the controversy around infant formula as Nestlé invests in Pfizer's brand.

What is it?

A substitute for breast milk, generally in the form of a powder made up by adding boiling water.

It contains vital vitamins and nutrients normally found in mothers’ milk. If the mother is dehydrated and unable to produce her own milk, it can be essential.

But there have been issues in under-developed countries.

Why is that?

The powder has to be mixed with water – but much of the water in these countries is contaminated.

The water should also be boiled, but a lack of fuel means many have to use tepid water.

Sounds terrible

That’s not all. Because many using the powder are impoverished, they try to make it last longer by using less formula than required, meaning the baby doesn’t receive the necessary nutrition.

Unicef estimates a child fed on formula, and living in disease-ridden and unhygienic conditions, is up to 25 times more likely to die of diarrhoea than one fed breast milk.

Why is it important?

Yesterday, Nestlé agreed to buy infant formula Pfizer Nutrition, which will give it increased access to the African and Latin American markets.

In the 1980s Nestlé tried to promote its formula in Africa, and was accused of encouraging mothers to stop breast feeding. This led to a boycott of the brand in the West.

Supporters of breast feeding led an internet campaign against Nestle