Updated 14 October 2015

Send an email to Nestlé. Nestlé promotes its baby milk with claim such as it ‘protects’ babies and is the ‘natural start’. But breastfeeding is the natural start and babies fed on breastmilk substitutes are more likely to become sick than breastfed babies. In conditions of poverty, more likely to die.

Nestle logoCampaigning works. The logo left appears on Nestlé’s infant formula in Thailand. After repeatedly defending it, Nestlé has finally agreed to drop it as we kept up the pressure. Nestlé wrote to Baby Milk Action on 14 October 2014 promising ‘We will discontinue the use of the “Natural Start” logo on our infant formula products by mid-2015.’

Download our sheet on Nestlé’s labels for further examples and information.

Earlier the campaign persuaded it to drop the claim that its formula is ‘The new “Gold Standard” in infant nutrition’.

Keep up the pressure on it to drop all misleading claims and aggressive marketing strategies. Send a message to Nestlé, and let us know if you receive a response.

(Tip – you can return to this page to share it with your friends by clicking ‘Email Nestlé’ in the left menu).

Share this link with your friends on Facebook and by using the email feature on the left or foot of page. Remember to join Baby Milk Action’s Facebook page.

Send a message to Nestlé

Click here to use Nestlé’s email form (please let us know if this link dies). 

You can also send a Tweet to Nestlé using its Creating Shared Value hashtag: @Nestlecsv. Nestlé uses this to tweet about how it benefits communities, so it is an opportunity to expose Nestlé’s malpractice to a wide audience.

Nestlé has ignored people who have contacted it during our campaigns, saying: ‘Please be advised that we have a policy of not responding to mass emails.’ So it is best to send your own message.

Please let us know if Nestlé replies. Here is our analysis of its current standard response.

If you would like some suggestions, see the following draft message. 

Dear Nestlé,

Nestlé says there is no question about breast milk being the best start a baby can have in life and claims to abide by the World Health Assembly marketing requirements for breastmilk substitutes. Yet evidence shows Nestlé systematically violates these measures. For example, you promote your formula with claims such as it *protects* babies and provides a *gentle start*.

As you know, babies fed on substitutes are more likely to become sick than breastfed babies and, in conditions of poverty, more likely to die. Your prominent logos and health claims undermine the obligatory ‘Breastfeeding is best for babies’ message.

Nestlé executives have defended these practices, despite them being a clear violation of the World Health Assembly marketing standards. You have finally promised to stop claiming your formula is the *natural start* by mid-2015, but that is not enough.

Please contact me when your management has decided to drop all your shameful promotional strategies. In the meantime, I will be redoubling my efforts to persuade more friends and colleagues to boycott your company.