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Info Centre - Nestle Boycott

Why?

The boycott of Nestlé products started in1977 and often centres on Nescafé as it is the most widespread and recognised brands. The boycott is focused around disapproval of the unethical and dangerous marketing practices used by Nestlé in countries around the world and is a separate issue to the use of formula in general.

Below are just a few of the concerns that charities, governments and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have raised:

  • Advertising and promotion: Nestlé and other formula manufacturers create a glamorous impression of formula milk as an aspirational product, equivalent to breastmilk, playing on ideas that it is more modern or developed. A prominent tactic in the past has been to give away free samples for long enough for the mother's own milk to dry up or donate heavily branded items to clinics worldwide, but especially in developing countries in order to appear to be associated with medicine and health.

  • Due to the cost of formula milk, parents in developing countries are often unable to use the required amount as it can cost up to a quarter of the household's income to buy formula (especially in countries where the average wage is around 1 US Dollar per day, resulting in inadequate nutrition). There are also costs associated with preparation of milk: if there isn't an electricity supply then fossil fuels have to be burned several times per day to heat the water for preparation of the formula. Because this heating process can take more than 15 minutes, night feeds are especially problematic and formula is often made with cold or warm water.

  • Poor water quality in developing countries has been cited as a causal factor in the deaths of many babies fed on formula. This is coupled with the problems surrounding language and labelling because the instructions for properly sterilising the water and equipment may not be in the parent's native language.

  • Labelling and language: formula milk is often marketed in a European language, with instructions for correct use only appearing in that language. In many countries, such as Mozambique, where there are 43 languages spoken and only 40% of the population speak the official language (Portugese). If you can't read the instructions, you risk making the product using the wrong quantities.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF estimate that 1.5 million children around the world die every year because they are not breastfed. In developing countries, babies who are not breastfed are 10 times more likely to die in their first six months than a breastfed child. In the UK, babies are more likely to be hospitalised with diarrhoea or a chest infection if they are formula fed.

A study by the medical journal the Lancet estimated that 13% of child deaths could be prevented by breastfeeding. It is recognised that irresponsible marketing of infant formula milk is a large contributory factor in normalising bottle feeding and the improper use of formula milk.

The Code

In 1981, the WHO agreed the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes [pdf], a policy to protect and promote breastfeeding. Governments are asked to bring the Code into law in their own countries, but the Code also calls on formula manufacturers to implement its provisions directly.

The Code exists to protect breastfeeding and to ensure breastmilk substitutes are used safely where they are necessary. It doesn’t stop formula products being sold – it aims for mothers to receive information and make decisions without pressure from companies who want to sell more products. Nestlé is the worst of the baby food companies for breaking the rules, which is why it has been the target of a boycott since 1977. It was suspended once in the eighties when Nestlé promised to keep to the Code, but restarted when it was clear this was not happening.

Nestlé is the largest baby food company, and also lobbies against the introduction of the Code in national legislation in many developing countries. Independent monitoring consistently finds that the Code is being broken, and Nestlé is a repeat offender. The boycott is supported by many organisations, from church groups, charities and wholefood shops to trade unions, local authorities and almost all students' unions. In fact Nestlé is one of the four most boycotted companies in the world and easily the most boycotted in the UK.

How does the boycott work?

In order to support the boycott, you won’t find Nestlé products at NCT events such as our Bumps and Babies groups or as raffle prizes. We don't use Nescafé coffee, buy Nestlé branded chocolate or water. The list of Nestlé owned brands is extensive and includes many brands that are not explicitly marketed with the Nestlé logo.

Campaigning for implementation of the WHO Code and support for the boycott is part of NCT’s goal of supporting all parents in their decisions about feeding. We want all parents to have good quality, unbiased and evidence-based information - free from commercial influences.