Nestle Boycott

Why is there a Nestle boycott?

Back in the 1940s, in order to sell more infant formula Nestle would hire women with no special training and dress them up as nurses to give out free samples of Nestle formula. That was outlawed in the United States but this practice continued in third world countries.

So what's the problem?

The free formula sample only lasted long enough for a mother's own breast milk to dry up. Not knowing about re-lactation, these moms would then be forced to purchase formula. Due to a lack of resources these poor mothers would be forced to mix the formula with unsanitary water and/or to make the formula last longer by diluting it by more water that was recommended.

The results?

The results are:

1) Babies died.

2) Nestle made huge profits.

3) In 1977, due to a public outcry over the death of defenseless babies, the Nestle Boycott was birthed. Nestle was found "to be the most unethical of the several companies selling baby formula at the time."

4) The The World Health Organization - WHO - drafted the International Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, which was signed by much of the world in the early 1980's and finally by the United States in 1994.

To the present.

That was in 1970's so why do we still have a Nestle boycott today?

After a very brief reprieve the Nestle boycott was re-launched in 1988 and continues to this day. A recent report called "Cracking the Code" outlines the many present-day violations of the WHO code. This report is available from UNICEF at:

So basically Nestle is still targeted with a boycott because monitoring conducted by the International Baby Food Action Network - IBFAN - has found this company responsible for more violations of the World Health Assembly marketing requirements for baby foods than any other company.

As UNICEF has said:

The Nestle boycott is an international boycott and so far is recognized in 18 countries:

Nestle Owned Companies

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