The infant formula debate

Two articles on ‘The baby milk controversy’, published in the August 1980 issue of Food Policy, were received with great interest and have generated a large response. In those articles, John Sparks put the case for the infant formula manufacturers and Andy Chetley replied. We now present the comments of a Third World scientist in response to those articles, a report from Andy Chetley on the international marketing code for breast-milk substitutes, and an appeal by Jennifer Halpern for increased cooperation between the multinationals and INFACT and its supporters.     

Use and understanding of labelling information when preparing infant formula: Evidence from interviews and eye tracking

There are various risks associated with incorrect preparation and storage of infant formula, including microbiological hazards. Preparing and storing reconstituted infant formula correctly can reduce potential risks. The product label on infant formula is often the main source of information for caregivers on the correct handling of infant formula. Caregivers’ ability to understand and follow preparation and storage instructions is, therefore, of high importance in the safe use of infant formula. This study aims to increase understanding of how Australian caregivers perceive, interpret and use mandatory and voluntary “on-pack” label information when preparing and storing infant formula. An eye-tracking task requiring caregivers (n = 30) to prepare an unfamiliar infant formula product while wearing Tobi Pro 2 Glasses revealed that almost all caregivers look at the preparation instructions (93%), though fewer look at the warning advice (43%) and storage instructions (27%). Findings from retrospective think-aloud and in-depth interviews conducted immediately after the eye-tracking task, revealed that while preparation instructions are generally understood, they are not always adhered to, with most caregivers making modifications for convenience. Lack of awareness and low perceived risk to the infant’s health were other reasons for non-adherence. These findings suggest that mandated food-safety elements on infant formula products need to be more noticeable, clearer and more specific with respect to potential infant health risks associated with non-adherence, to ensure safe preparation and storage by all caregivers. These findings will be used to inform a review of the labelling requirements for infant formula products.     

Regulatory inertia versus ICT dynamics: The case of product innovations

This article conjectures that the legacy industry-specific regulation that has governed the telecommunications sector for a long time is in basic conflict with the dynamics and product innovations that characterize the modern information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Reasons for the failure of legacy regulation to promote product innovations are explained and proposals for alternatives, such as deregulation and regulatory reform are discussed. Both regulation and competition policy are more difficult for ICT than for other sectors. Therefore both, regulation and competition policy may need reforms in order to deal with new problems. The most drastic and most realistic alternative to legacy-type regulation remains deregulation and a move to competition policy. Symmetric regulation, smart regulation, quasi-Coasean approaches and subsidies all have some limited applicability to specific situations, but are all associated with complications that have to be resolved, while competition policy is a comprehensive alternative. Last-mile access and gatekeeper access are analyzed as two main areas of legacy regulation, which are in danger of being exported to other ICT areas. Such exports may negatively affect the dynamics of the ICT industry. Rather than being exported, legacy regulations should be reduced in order to enhance product innovations.     

Kenyan Competition Policy After Ten Years of the Competition Act: A Progress Report

Review of Industrial Organization - With the coming into force of the Competition Act (2010), Kenya entered the world of modern competition policy. The 10 years that has passed since has...     

Perspectives of gatekeepers in the Kenyan food industry towards genetically modified food

Attitudes and perceptions of stakeholders are crucial in the acceptability of GM foods. Past research focussed on consumers, but paid little attention to the food industry and its gatekeepers, especially in Africa. Therefore, a survey was conducted covering 39 respondents from the milling industry and supermarkets, the main processors and distributors of maize products, in seven urban centres of Kenya. Respondents, mostly from senior management, were well educated and had a good knowledge of biotechnology. Their major sources of information were the media for the supermarkets, and brochures and the food industry for the milling companies. Respondents generally appreciated the benefits of biotechnology, but had concerns about the environment, although few people considered GM food harmful to human or animal health. Most respondents found traceability of GM products important, but would prefer not to label them because of the costs and possible negative consumer reactions. Respondents were largely non-committal on the use of GM products in their companies, preferring to decide on a case-by-case basis. The few negative responses, mostly from the milling industry, were affected by high risk and low benefit perceptions. Most respondents do not like the idea of labelling GM food. Better communication between research and the food industry is now needed, and more research on the labelling of GM products.     

Jinan:infant clothing test notification

Before the Spring Festival, Jinan Consumer Council issued the report of comparison test on 16 brands of infant apparel. The results show that all the products are qualified. To create a safe, secure environment for consumption, to ensure that the infants     

Formal versus informal knowledge networks in R&D: a case study using social network analysis

The existence of informal social networks within organizations has long been recognized as important and the unique working relationships among scientific and technical personnel have been well documented by both academics and practitioners. The growing interest in knowledge management practices has led to increased attention being paid to social network analysis as a tool for mapping the nature and membership of informal networks. However, despite the knowledge-intensive nature of research and development (R&D) activities, social network analyses of the R&D function remain relatively rare. This paper discusses the role of informal networks in the development, exchange and dissemination of knowledge within the R&D function. A case study using social network analysis is used to compare and contrast formal and informal knowledge networks within ICI. Marked differences between the informal organization and ICI's formal structures for knowledge exchange are revealed and a series of insights into the working habits of technical staff are presented. The implications for managers are clear: through a better understanding of the informal organization of R&D staff, they can more successfully capture and exploit new ideas; more efficiently disseminate information throughout the function; and more effectively understand the working habits and activities of employees.     

Subsistence production,markets, and dietary diversity in the Kenyan small farm sector

Undernutrition and low dietary quality remain widespread problems in poor population segments, especially among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, the question how smallholder systems can be made more nutrition-sensitive is of particular relevance for research and policy. Recent studies analyzed whether increasing farm production diversity may help to improve nutrition. Most existing studies found a positive but small effect on dietary diversity on average. The underlying mechanisms were not examined in detail. This article tests the hypothesis that the effect of farm diversity on nutrition is small because production diversity is positively associated with dietary diversity obtained from subsistence production but negatively associated with dietary diversity obtained from the market. This hypothesis is confirmed with data from Kenya, using different indicators of production diversity and dietary diversity scores at household and individual levels. The results underline the important role of markets for smallholder diets and nutrition. Hence, strengthening markets and improving market access should be a key strategy to make smallholder systems more nutrition-sensitive.     

Content and advertising in the media: Pay-tv versus free-to-air

We compare the advertising intensity and content of programming in a market with competing media platforms. With pay-tv, media platforms have two sources of revenues, advertising revenues and revenues from viewers. With free-to-air, media platforms receive all revenues from advertising. We show that if viewers strongly dislike advertising, the advertising intensity is greater under free-to-air television. We also show that free-to-air television tends to provide less differentiated content whereas pay-tv stations always maximally differentiate their content. In addition, we compare the welfare properties of the two different schemes.     

瓜蒌配方颗粒指纹图谱研究

为了全面反映瓜蒌配方颗粒所含多种组分,明确瓜蒌配方颗粒HPLC指纹图谱的测定方法,对10批瓜蒌配方颗粒进行了HPLC指纹图谱测定及相似度评价。采用HPLC方法,色谱柱为GL Sciences公司InertSustain AQ-C_(18)柱(4.6 nm×250 nm,5μm),以甲醇-0.1%甲酸水溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,检测波长为260 nm,流速为0.8 mL/min,柱温为25℃,对瓜蒌配方颗粒指纹图谱测定结果进行了相似度评价。结果表明,10批瓜蒌配方颗粒指纹图谱中呈现16个共有峰,相似度均大于0.960,表明瓜蒌配方颗粒具有良好的一致性;此外,在16个共有峰中指认出腺嘌呤、尿苷2个化学成分。瓜蒌配方颗粒指纹图谱反映了瓜蒌配方颗粒的多组分面貌,可为瓜蒌配方颗粒的多组分质量控制提供参考依据。     

通货膨胀助推婴童产业

不论习惯与否.我们已步入通货膨胀的年代。多年来国内经济的高增长低通胀已变成高增长高通胀。中国经济于2007年开始进行的结构性调整与消费结构的不断升级,伴随着CPI螺旋式上升,婴童用品市场消费观念和习惯呈现出“惊险的一跃”,其潜在的发展机遇需要业者以深刻的洞察力方可捕捉。 2008年2月份,洋奶粉声称由于国际奶源紧张与原材料价格上涨,纷纷“串谋”涨价,受到社会舆论与消费者一致的口诛笔伐。但业内人士都清楚,与成人乳制品相较,婴幼儿配方奶粉的商品毛利极其丰厚,原材料对洋奶粉零售价格的影响很小,其涨价的真实原因与其说是奶源稀缺,还不如说是一种“策略性定价”,借以阻击国产品牌进入高端奶粉市场,同时,率先以“浑水摸鱼”的手法获取通胀的红利。 但是婴童产业涉及的产品包罗万象,通涨对产业各领域的影响不一。     

Target pricing: Demand-side versus supply-side approaches

The practice of target pricing has been a key factor in the success of Japanese manufacturers. In the more commonly known demand-side approach, the target price for the supplier equals the manufacturer's market price less a percent margin for the manufacturer but no cost-improvement expenses are shared. In the supply-side approach, cost-improvement expenses are shared and the target price equals the supplier's cost plus a percent margin for the supplier. Using a general oligopoly and Cournot duopoly models, we characterize the equilibrium and optimal policy for each approach under various conditions. We find that sharing cost-reduction expenses allows the manufacturer using the supply-side approach to attain competitive advantage in the form of increased market share and higher profit, particularly in industrial conditions where margins are thin and price sensitivities are high.     

Diversification entry: Internal development versus acquisition

The economic theory of barriers to entry is integrated with the corporate strategy concept of relatedness, to develop a model of the choice between internal development and acquisition in diversification entry into new markets. The model is tested on original data collected for this study from PIMS Program participants. These original data cover the parent company characteristics, entry strategy and entry outcome for 59 entrants into 31 markets. These entry-related data are merged with existing PIMS data on the structure of the entered markets and their incumbents. Results of binary regression analysis show that the choice between the two entry modes is well explained by measures of barriers and relatedness. Higher barriers are more likely to be associated with acquisition entry. Greater relatedness is more likely to be associated with direct entry.     

Regional universal telecommunication service provisions in the US: Efficiency versus penetration

Universal service, the long time goal of telecommunications regulation, is under new scrutiny by stakeholders. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 eliminated the barriers to competition implemented in the transitional Modified Final Judgment of 1984. The FCC is now setting up a new universal service plan, which extends its scope to schools, libraries and health care providers. At the same time, however, concerns about the effectiveness of the universal service are increasing. This article reports on a study which first investigates the growth patterns in the number of house-holds by income groups in states, and then examines the effectiveness and efficiency of the universal service policy on low-income households at the state level.     

Determinants of Differential Rent Changes: Mean Reversion versus the Usual Suspects

This is a hedonic regression study of the 2001–2004 and 2004–2007 rent growth of 18,000 rental units. Which variables matter: Location? Age? Rent level? Occupancy duration? Structure type? The answers deepen understanding of the rental market and help guide statistical agency practice. We document significant rent stickiness. Initial relative rent level is the best predictor, mainly because of mean reversion. (This problem likely extends well beyond the present study.) “Location” comes in second, though often not statistically significant: the relative value of location is persistent. Age and occupancy duration are also notable. Our findings support statistical agency practices.     

Local versus global mimetism: the dynamics of alliance formation in the automobile industry

The alliance dynamics among the 35 largest firms in the worldwide automobile industry indicates that the likelihood of an alliance between any two firms depends on the local density of alliances among the members of their strategic groups, rather than on the global density of alliances in the industry. These results suggest that firms most closely observe and imitate the strategic behavior of firms who occupy the same strategic niche rather than the behavior of firms in their industry defined more broadly. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rural telework: case studies from the Australian outback

This paper examines the effects of infrastructure and isolation on rural telework, and the potential of telework for rural communities. It draws on findings from two Australian case studies: a government initiative and a community-initiated training project. Differences between the experiences of rural and urban teleworkers are highlighted.