Are better educated Chinese women breastfeeding their babies?

The heralding of the 2026 lunar new year in China has prompted many questions about breastfeeding rates in China. And the most important message is that despite the billions of dollars big formula companies continue to spend in marketing formula, Chinese women are becoming better and better educated and instead of submitting to these aggressive marketing tactics, educated Chinese women are turning back to breastfeeding.

Exclusive breastfeeding rates however in China, while improving, still remain low.

Infant formula was introduced into China in the early 20th century, but its widespread adoption happened much later.

🍼 Early introduction (1900s–1940s)

• Western-style infant formula entered China through foreign companies operating in treaty ports such as Shanghai in the 1910s–1930s.
• Products from companies like Nestlé were marketed to urban, wealthier families.
• At this time, breastfeeding remained the cultural norm, and formula use was limited.

📈 Major expansion (1980s–1990s)

It was not until the 1980s that baby formula became popular in China. The reason formula use suddenly increased was:

• China’s economic reforms beginning in 1978 under Deng Xiaoping
• Rapid urbanisation and women becoming more equal in the workforce
• Aggressive marketing by formula companies during the 1980s and 1990s

During this period, as a result of calculated marketing tactics, formula became associated with modernity, Western science, and higher socioeconomic status.

⚠️ Serious turning point: 2008

A major shift in public sentiment occurred after the 2008 melamine contamination scandal, which involved the dairy company Sanlu Group. As a result of contaminated baby formula (intentionally contaminated for financial gains), health reports estimated that around 300,000 infants and young children became ill or died after consuming contaminated milk products.

Many who were affected in 2008, are now in their late teens/early 20s and living with permanent kidney damage.

Some executives involved in the scandal were given death sentences. The crisis led to widespread distrust of formula brands.