Experts are worried that infant-formula companies are contributing to the sharp decline in the rate of breastfeeding.

The Vietnam National Assembly's Institute of Legislative Studies held a conference with several international organisations on new policies about child rearing.

Dr. Alessandro Lellamo from WHO said breastfeeding could prevent 75-93% risks of death from diarrhoea and 80% death from pneumonia. Breastfed babies could also benefit from IQs 3 to 5 points higher than those raised on formula.

David Clard from UNICEF said sub-optimum breastfeeding accounted for 1.4 million deaths in children under five annually. Clard also warned that powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and may occasionally contain pathogens in factories.

However, the rate of breastfeeding in the Southeast Asia only jumped from 28% to 29% while the figure increased from 34% in 1995 to 43% in 2011 in other parts of the world.

Representatives from UNICEF and other international organisations agreed that corporate greed is the main cause for the low rate of breastfeeding.

Yeong Joo Kean of International Baby Food Action Network said annual sales of infant formula milk amounted to USD25 billion. The Pacific-Asia is the biggest market for the products, accounting for 37% of market share.

To improve sales, corporations often spend huge amounts on advertising. Annual advertisement costs in the UK were just GBP12 million while in Hong Kong, spending reached USD300 million in 2012.

Yeong Joo Kean said the corporations made use of their relationships with hospitals and even bribed medical staff to advertise their products. At a conference held by Vietnam Nutrition Association, a labour and delivery nurse admitted that they helped in selling formula milk in exchange for overseas trips.

An official from the Ministry of Health Dinh Thi Thu Thuy said, "Many adverts hint that formula milk are either a perfect substitute or even better than breast milk."

She added that some banned products were still on sale at many chemists or sold by medical staffs who earn profits from corporations. Meanwhile, inspections were slow and few.