Nestlé boycott
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The '''Nestlé boycott''' is a [[boycott]] launched on [[July 4]], [[1977]] in the [[United States]] against the Swiss based [[Nestlé]] corporation. It soon spread rapidly outside the United States, particularly in [[Europe]].<ref>'''GEOGRAPHY'''[http://www.newint.org/issue110/action.htm Contemporary news article that describes interest in the boycott and Nestles losses for 1980]</ref> It was prompted by concern about the company's marketing of [[breast milk]] substitutes ([[infant formula]]), particularly in less economically developed countries ([[LEDC]]s), which campaigners claim contributes to the unnecessary death and suffering of babies, largely among the poor.<ref>[http://www.babymilkaction.org/ Campaigners website stating their claims]</ref> Among the campaigners, Professor Derek Jelliffe and his wife Patrice, who had contributed to establish the [[World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action]] (WABA), were particularly instrumental in helping to coordinate the boycott and giving it ample visibility throughout the world.
==The baby milk issue==
Groups such as the [[International Baby Food Action Network]] (IBFAN), and [[Save the Children]] claim that the promotion of infant formula over breast-feeding has led to health problems and deaths among infants in less economically developed countries.<ref>{{cite web | title = What is the problem? | work = IBFAN | url = http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/article.php?art_id=23&iui=1| accessdate = 2007-06-06 }}</ref><ref name=”savechildren”>>[http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/downloads/a_generation_on.pdf A Generation On: Baby milk marketing still putting children’s lives at risk] Save the Children report, May 2007 (pdf). </ref> There are four problems that are said to arise when poor mothers in Third World countries switch to formula. First, formula must normally be mixed with water, which is often contaminated in poor countries, leading to disease in vulnerable infants. <ref name="Moorhead_2007"> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,2079757,00.html Milking it] Joanna Moorhead, The Guardian, May 15 2007 </ref> [[UNICEF]] estimates that a non-breastfed child living in disease-ridden and unhygienic conditions is between six and 25 times more likely to die of [[diarrhea]] and four times more likely to die of [[pneumonia]] than a breastfed child.
<ref name=unicef>{{cite web | title = Infant and Young Child Feeding and Care| work = UNICEF | url = http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding.html| accessdate = 2007-06-08 }}</ref>
Second, many poor mothers use less formula powder than is necessary, in order to make a container of formula last longer. As a result, some infants receive inadequate [[nutrition]] from weak solutions of formula.<ref>[http://www.worldconcern.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=1556&srcid=596 World Concern website describes mother's needing to dilute formula]</ref>
Third, breast milk has many natural benefits lacking from formula. [[Nutrients]] and [[antibodies]] are passed to the baby while [[hormones]] are released into the mother's body.<ref name=CDC>{{cite web | title=Breastfeeding | work=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | url=http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/ | accessdate=2007-01-23}}</ref> Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including diarrhea, [[bacterial meningitis]], [[gastroenteritis]], [[Otitis media|ear infection]], and [[respiratory infection]].<ref name="Gartner_2005">{{cite journal | author=Gartner LM, ''et al'' | title=Breastfeeding and the use of human milk | journal=Pediatrics | year=2005 | pages=496–506 | volume=115 | issue=2 | url=http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2004-2491 | pmid= 15687461}}</ref><ref name=HHS>{{cite web | title=Benefits of Breastfeeding | work=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | url=http://www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227 | accessdate=2007-01-23}}</ref><ref name="Merck">[http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch122/ch122a.html "Gastroenteritis"]. ''Merck Manuals Online Medical Library''. 1 February 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2006.</ref> Breast milk contains the right amount of the nutrients that are essential for [[neuronal]] (brain and nerve) development. <ref name="Atkinson_1989">{{cite book | author = Atkinson, S | coauthors = Bo Lönnerdal | title = Proteins and non-protein nitrogens in human milk | publisher = CRC Press | date = 1989 | pages = 131 | isbn = 0849367956 }}</ref> The bond between baby and mother can be strengthened during breastfeeding.<ref name=HHS>{{cite web | title=Benefits of Breastfeeding |
work=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | url=http://www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227 | accessdate=2007-01-23}}</ref> Frequent and exclusive breastfeeding can also [[lactational amenorrhea|delay the return of fertility]], which can help women in developing countries to space their births.<ref>{{cite web | title = Comparison of Effectiveness | work = Planned Parenthood | date = April 2005 | url = http://www.plannedparenthood.org/birth-control-pregnancy/birth-control/effectiveness.htm | accessdate = 2006-08-12 }}, which cites:<br>:{{cite book | first=RA | last=Hatcher | coauthors=Trussel J, Stewart F, et al | year=2000 | title=Contraceptive Technology | edition=18th Edition | publisher=Ardent Media | location=New York | id=ISBN 0-9664902-6-6 }}</ref> The [[World Health Organization]] recommends that, in the majority of cases, babies should be exclusively breast fed for the first six months.<ref> [http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB109/eeb10912.pdf World Health Organization], "Global strategy for infant and young child feeding," section titled "EXERCISING OTHER FEEDING OPTIONS" 24 November 2001</ref> According to UNICEF, if every baby were exclusively breastfed from birth to six months, an estimated 1.3 million additional lives would be saved each year. <ref name=unicef/>
Fourth, because of the high illiteracy rates in developing nations most mothers are not aware of the necessary sanitisation methods needed in the preparation of bottles to feed the infants. Even the mothers that can understand the methods needed, most do not have the means to perform this sanitisation. As such, infants are exposed to many harmful pathogens they are not able to combat at such a young age. The lack of sanitisation of bottles increases the morbidity and mortality rates in these developing nations.
Advocacy groups and charities have accused Nestlé of unethical methods of promoting infant formula over breast-milk to poor mothers in third world countries.<ref>[http://www.infactcanada.ca/nestle_boycott_product.htm Nestle Products to Boycott<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="history">[http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/history.html History of the campaign] Baby Milk Action Group</ref> For example, IBFAN claim that Nestlé supports the distribution of free powdered formula samples to hospitals and maternity wards; after leaving the hospital, the formula is no longer free, but because the supplementation has interfered with lactation the family must continue to buy the formula. IBFAN also allege that Nestlé uses "humanitarian aid" to create markets, does not label its products in a language appropriate to the country where they are sold, and offers gifts and sponsorship to influence health workers to promote its products.<ref>{{cite web | title = How breastfeeding is undermined | work = IBFAN | url = http://www.ibfan.org/english/issue/bfundermined01.html | accessdate = 2007-06-06 }}</ref> Nestlé denies these allegations. <ref name=Nestle_response>{{cite web | title = Who Code Violation Allegations | work = Nestlé | url = http://www.babymilk.nestle.com/Who+Code+Issues/Allegations/ | accessdate = 2007-06-06 }}</ref>
==History of the boycott==
Nestlé's perceived marketing strategy was first written about in ''New Internationalist'' magazine in [[1973]] and in a booklet called ''The Baby Killer'', published by the British non-governmental organization [[War On Want]] in 1974. Nestlé attempted to sue the publisher of a German-language translation (Third World Action Group) for [[libel]]. After a two-year trial, the court found in favor of Nestlé and fined the group 300 [[Swiss francs]] because they could not be held responsible for the infant deaths 'in terms of criminal law'. <ref name="Sethi_1994">{{cite journal | author=Sethi, S. Prakash |title= Multinational Corporations and the Impact of Public Advocacy on Corporate Strategy: Nestle and the Infant Formula Controversy| journal= Journal of International Business Studies| year=1994 | pages= 658–660 | volume= 25 | issue=3 | url= http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0047-2506(199433)25%3A3%3C658%3AMCATIO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-8}}</ref>
However, because of the token fine, and because Judge Jürg Sollberger commented that Nestlé "must modify its publicity methods fundamentally", [[TIME]] magazine declared this a "moral victory" for the defendants. <ref name="TIME_1976">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914298,00.html The Formula Flap] TIME Magazine, Jul. 12, 1976 </ref>
The widespread publicity led to the launch of the boycott in [[Minneapolis]], [[USA]] by the Infant Formula Action Coalition (INFACT) and this boycott soon spread to [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[New Zealand]], and [[Europe]]. In May [[1978]], the US Senate held a public hearing into the promotion of breast-milk substitutes in developing countries and joined calls for a Marketing Code. In [[1979]], WHO and UNICEF hosted an international meeting which called for the development of an international code of marketing, as well as action on other fronts to improve infant and young child feeding practices. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) was formed by six of the campaigning groups at this meeting. <ref name ="history"/>
In [[1981]], the 34th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted Resolution WHA34.22 which includes the [[International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes]]. The Code covers infant formula and other milk products, foods and beverages, when marketed or otherwise represented to be suitable as a partial or total replacement of breast-milk. It bans the promotion of breast-milk substitutes and gives health workers the responsibility of advising parents. It limits manufacturing companies to the provision of scientific and factual information to health workers and sets out labeling requirements.<ref>{{cite web | title = The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes | work = WHO| date=1981|url = http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf | accessdate = 2007-06-06 }}</ref>
In [[1984]], boycott coordinators met with Nestlé, which agreed to implement the code, and the boycott was officially suspended. However, in [[1988]] IBFAN alleged that baby-milk companies were flooding health facilities in the developing world with free and low-cost supplies, and the boycott was relaunched the following year <ref name="Moorhead_2007"/>
In May [[1999]] a ruling against Nestlé was issued by the UK [[Advertising Standards Authority]] (ASA). Nestlé claimed in an anti-boycott advertisement that it markets infant formula “ethically and responsibly”. The ASA found that Nestlé could not support this nor other claims in the face of evidence provided by the campaigning group Baby Milk Action.<ref name="Ferriman_1999">{{cite journal | last = Ferriman| first = Annabel | title= Advertising Standards Authority finds against Nestlé | journal=BMJ| date = 13 Feb 1999| year=1999 | pages= 318:417| url= http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7181/417/a | pmid= 9974443}}</ref>
In November [[2000]] the [[European Parliament]] invited IBFAN, UNICEF and Nestlé to present evidence to a Public Hearing before the Development and Cooperation Committee. Evidence was presented by the IBFAN group from [[Pakistan]] and UNICEF's legal officer commented on Nestlé's failure to bring its policies into line with the World Health Assembly Resolutions. Nestlé declined an invitation to attend, claiming scheduling conflicts, although it sent a representative of the auditing company it had commissioned to produce a report on its Pakistan operation.<ref>{{cite press release | title = European Parliament public hearing on Nestlé's baby food marketing | publisher = Breast Feeding Promotion Network of India | date = November 22, 2000 | url = http://www.bpni.org/Press_Releases/pr-nov.22,2000.pdf | accessdate = 2007-06-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | title = MEPs shocked as Nestlé and Adidas snub Public Hearing on corporate responsibility | publisher = Baby Milk Action | date = November 23, 2000 | url = http://www.ibfan.org/english/news/press/press23nov00.html | accessdate = 2007-06-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = European Parliament Committee on Development | work = Nestlé | url = http://www.babymilk.nestle.com/News/All+Countries/Other/European+Parliament+Committee+on+Development.htm | accessdate = 2007-06-07 }}</ref>
==Current status of the boycott==
{{update}}
As of 2008, the boycott is coordinated by the ''International Nestlé Boycott Committee'', the secretariat for which is the UK group ''Baby Milk Action'' [http://www.babymilkaction.org/]. Company practices are monitored by the [[International Baby Food Action Network]] (IBFAN), which consists of more than 200 groups in over 100 countries.
In parallel with the boycott, campaigners work for implementation of the Code and Resolutions in legislation and claim that 60 countries have now introduced laws implementing most or all of the provisions.<ref>{{cite web | title = The role of regulations in protecting infant health| work = IBFAN | url = http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/article.php?art_id=310&iui=1| accessdate = 2007-06-07}}</ref>
Many European universities, colleges and schools have banned the sale of Nestlé products from their shops and vending machines. In the United Kingdom, hundreds of businesses, faith groups, health groups, consumer groups, local authorities, trade unions, education groups, politicians, and celebrities support the boycott.<ref>{{cite web | title = UK groups endorsing the boycott| work = Baby Milk Action | url = http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/endorsers.html| accessdate = 2007-06-07}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ousu.org/content/index.php?page=4113 An example of one such ban] Council of the Oxford University Student Union, 9th June 2006</ref>
Nestlé claims that it is in full compliance with the International Code.<ref>{{cite web | title = The "International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes"| work = Nestlé | url = http://www.babymilk.nestle.com/Who+Code+Issues/Nestle+Code+Compliance/Nestle+code+compliance.htm | accessdate = 2007-06-06 }}</ref> According to their [[CEO]], [[Peter Brabeck-Letmathe]], "we also carry out annual audits on WHO Code compliance with a sample of Nestlé companies, and we investigate any substantiated claims made by those who believe we have broken the Code.... If we find that the Code has been deliberately violated, we take disciplinary action."<ref>{{cite web | title = Foreword by Peter Brabeck | work = Nestlé | url = http://www.babymilk.nestle.com/Developping+World/Foreword/
| accessdate = 2007-06-11 }}</ref> The company maintains that many of the allegations are unsubstantiated, out-of-date, or use IBFAN's own non-standard interpretation of the Code. <ref name=Nestle_response/>
==Boycott in the media==
An episode of the [[TV]] show ''Mark Thomas Product'' made by British [[Channel Four]] in [[1999]] investigated the [[Nestle]] boycott and Nestle's practices concerning baby milk. [[Mark Thomas]] attempts to find evidence for claims against Nestle and to speak to heads of the company. In one portion of the show he "received a tin of baby milk from [[Mozambique]]. All instructions are in English. 33 languages and dialects are recognised in Mozambique, but English isn't one of them. Nestle UK refused to talk on camera, and said they would fax their answers."<ref>[http://www.markthomasinfo.com/info/series4.asp Website for the Mark Thomas Product TV show]</ref>
In [[2001]], comedian [[Robert Newman (comedian)|Robert Newman]] and actress [[Emma Thompson]] called for a boycott of the [[Perrier Comedy Award]], because [[Perrier]] was owned by Nestlé.<ref>{{cite news | last = Scott | first = Kirsty | title = Spoof horror writer wins £5,000 Perrier award: Fringe comedy contest soured by baby milk protests | publisher = The Guardian | date = August 27, 2001| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburghfestival2001/story/0,,543033,00.html| accessdate = 2007-06-11 }}</ref> An alternative competition called the Tap Water Awards was set up the following year.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Tap Water Awards| url = http://www.tapwaterawards.org/| accessdate = 2007-06-11 }}</ref>
In [[2002]], authors [[Germaine Greer]] and [[Jim Crace]] withdrew from the [[Hay Festival]] in protest over Nestlé's sponsorship of the event.<ref>{{cite news | title = Writers boycott literary festival| publisher = BBC News| date = 27 May, 2002| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2010324.stm| accessdate = 2007-06-07}}</ref>
A [[2007]] article in [[The Guardian]] highlighted aggressive marketing practices by Nestlé in [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="Moorhead_2007"/>
==Other Nestlé operations targeted==
Nestlé is sometimes targeted for other aspects of its operations. A [[Brazil]]ian group called Cidadãos pelas Águas (Citizens for Water) has called a boycott of Nestlé in [[Brazil]] over the company's extraction of water from an [[aquifer]] in [[São Lourenço]]. Some also boycott Nestlé [[coffee]] and [[chocolate]] products in favour of [[fair trade]] alternatives. However, ''Partners Blend'' coffee, launched by Nestlé during [[2005]], has obtained [[Fairtrade]] labelling status. Baby Milk Action has also condemned this development.<ref>{{cite press release | title = Fairtrade mark and infant health could be damaged by Nestlé application warn campaigners | publisher = Baby Milk Action | date = October 6, 2005| url = http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press6oct05.html| accessdate = 2007-06-07 }}</ref>
In the [[Philippines]], there exists a Boycott Nestle campaign due to suspected labor rights violations in a factory in [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]] province.<ref>[http://www.clrlabor.org/alerts/2005/oct10-nestle.htm Campaign for labor rights website]</ref> This campaign is led by [[Kilusang Mayo Uno]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[International Baby Food Action Network]]
==External links==
*[http://www.ibfan.org/english/gateenglish.html International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN)]
*[http://www.babymilkaction.org/ Baby Milk Action]
*[http://www.ibfan.org/english/pdfs/btr04/btr04nestle.pdf Nestlé marketing profile], from Breaking the Rules Stretching the Rules, IBFAN, 2004
*[http://babymilk.8k.com/ Edinburgh University Néstle Boycott Campaign]
*[http://www.babymilk.nestle.com Nestlé's response to the baby milk issue]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nestle boycott}}
[[Category:Boycotts of organizations]]
[[Category:Consumer boycotts]]
[[Category:Breastfeeding advocacy]]
[[Category:Nestlé|Boycott]]
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