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 Nestlé, Good Grief!

Nestlé has the slogan 'Good Food, Good Life'. We say 'Nestlé, Good Grief!' because Nestlé puts its own profits before health.

It pushes baby milk using strategies that are prohibited by international marketing standards, so undermining breastfeeding. For example, it claims on labels around the world that its formula 'protects' babies, but it knows that babies who are fed on formula are more likely to become sick than breastfed babies and, in conditions of poverty, more likely to die. According to UNICEF, "Improved breastfeeding practices and reduction of artificial feeding could save an estimated 1.5 million children a year."

Nestlé is the worst of the baby food companies and so is the target of a boycott. The latest global monitoring report from the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) has page after page of examples of Nestlé materials that violate the marketing standards adopted by the World Health Assembly. It has dropped one leaflet claiming its formula is 'The new "Gold Standard" in infant nutrition' after thousands of boycott supporters sent it emails in an ongoing campaign, but is refusing to stop the vast majority of the examples given in the report. Additional pressure is needed.

Some countries, such as India and Brazil, have introduced strong laws and have proved that companies can comply with the marketing requirements when they are forced to. In India companies have been unable to grow the market and in Brazil breastfeeding rates have increased significantly since violations have been stopped. Where companies think they can get away with it, they put their profits first. The boycott gives the global market leader a financial reason to think again.

Nestlé also endangers babies that are fed on formula by refusing to warn that powdered formula is not sterile and may contain harmful bacteria. It refuses to bring its instructions into line with World Health Organisation Guidelines for reducing risks - and has just launched its BabyNes formula system with claims that it provides 'utmost safety' but this does not prepare formula in line with the Guidelines as the water is not made hot enough to kill any bacteria that may be in the formula.

Nestlé. Good Grief!