Introduction
Everyone is talking about the microbiome! And now we need to turn up the volume on the conversation around the microbiome of babies and children. This conversation, which addresses issues around formula and foods marketed at children, has been sidelined in recent years – the emphasis has been on ‘choice’ and not on the health consequences of those choices. Gabrielle Palmer’s book The Politics of Breastfeeding, never out of print since 1987, shone a bright light onto the commercial playbook about marketing infant formula and the consequences for infant and maternal health, but the situation has only become more entrenched, despite the best efforts of many in this room. Our new lens on this subject is the science of the microbiome. We are excited to hear about the latest research, the big picture, and potential ways forward from our panel.
I’m delighted to convene such a wonderful group of people at Goodwood. Together we make up the jigsaw, with huge potential to change the health of British children.
