Ethical Marketing!

Nestle' violates Resolution 54.2

Nestle' is using the suffering of infants infected with HIV as a cover to launch their promotion of formula in Southern Africa. Mothers are being persuaded to give their breastfed babies formula, increasing their risks of infection and malnutrition.

Baby Milk Action has been, for many years, calling for independent research into the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child through breastfeeding. The importance of breastfeeding was acknowledged at the World Health Assembly in May of this year (2001) in Resolution 54.2. The Resolution settles a 7 year long controversy over the two most critical aspects of infant feeding, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary foods for infants. You can view Resolution 54.2 at http:/www.bpni.org/cgi/wha1.asp.

The International Code was adopted by the W.H.A. in May 1981 and it's aim was to require all governments to protect infant health by preventing inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitutes. This Code covers the marketing of all breastmilk substitutes such as infant formula, follow up milks and complimentary food such as cereal and juices. It states that there should be NO promotions or advertising of these products to the public. Manufacturers and suppliers should NOT distribute these products to pregnant women or mothers of infants as gifts which my promote the use of breastmilk substitutes or bottle feeding, nor should Health Care Facilities be used to promote infant formula or other products within the guide lines of the Code.

Nestle' announced that it was promoting a new infant formula campaign in Southern Africa, which violates many aspects of the Resolution, before the government barely had time to act upon these new protective clauses. According to Nestle' it is launching a "Nutrition Institute" with a long term goal of improving Southern and East African nutrition, in particular nutrition used in the HIV vertical transmission program through infant formula. Nestle' claim that the Nan Pelargon formula, that it is promoting in Southern Africa, has high acidity which means it will destroy infections in unsafe water. Independent health experts say "this claim can not be supported". This claim puts all infants at risk and undermines the requirement "that mothers who decide not to breastfeed and choose other options should be encouraged to use them free of commercial influence".

Research has shown us that breastfed infants are at a much lesser risk of diarrhea, respiratory infections and other illnesses and their mothers also experience health advantages.

It is very upsetting that Nestle' almost immediately violated the Resolution, with it's "Nutrition Institute" to promote Nan Pelargon formula in Southern Africa, with claims that it is safe to use with unsafe water supplies.......Will Nestle' take full responsibility for all the deaths that occur through misuse of this formula?

What You Can Do
Nestle', is the world's largest baby food company and increases it's profits by promoting artificial infant feeding in violation of the W.H.O. code that has been signed by the US and many other nations. Nestle' knows that once a bottle has become between a mother and her child breastfeeding is more likely to fail and the company has gained a customer. Because of Nestle's continued disrespect for the International Code and infant health the best thing you can do is stop purchasing Nestle products.

For more information about the boycott, and for recent news of code violations and more, contact Baby Milk Action;