For those of you who haven't already written, but are going to, if
you dig a bit further in the site, beyond the "leave a comment" area,
there is a place where you can actually post an email and get a
response back. That is wher I posted my letter, and there is the
response I received:
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 07:15:46 -0700
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Are you really considering selli... [Incident:benjerry 991206-0016]
Here's our response to your question!
Although the message below states that you can either reply to
this message or update it on our web site, please DO NOT REPLY
to this message - this system is still under development and
we will not receive your message. Please use the link to the
web page for any updates to your question. We will see those
and get back to you as soon as we can.
---------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Are you really considering selling to Nestle? Please please
don't!!!
SUGGESTED SOLUTION: At 12/7/99 7:15 AM we wrote - Unfortunately,
there is very little information that we know or can release about
this issue at this time. Our <a
href="http://lib.benjerry.com/pressrel/12021999.html"
target="_top">press
release</a> contains pretty much everything we are able to say.
Please read through it. If/when we have any more information we will
be making another press release. Check back for it.
We thank you very much for contacting us and we truly appreciate
your concern.
Ben & Jerry's
DESCRIPTION:
Dear Ben & Jerry (and whomever is reading this inquiry),
Are you really considering selling to Nestle? Please _please_
don't!
Speaking as a very loyal Ben & Jerry's consumer (we never have fewer
than 15 pints in our freezer, and have to restock every week!), as a
nursing mother, and as a childbirth/lactation
consultant-in-training, it would be a true shame, and a travesty, to
have your fine company, known for its earth- and people-positive
activism, sold out to a company which so blatantly puts its fiscal
bottom line ahead of the health and very lives of the world's
children.
In case you are not already aware (and I cannot imagine that you
are, if you are indeed considering selling to them), Nestle has, for
the past several years, steadfastly _refused_ to conform to the
World Health Organization's policies on the marketing of formula in
preference to breastmilk, causing untold multitudes of babies harm,
and even death, from substandard nutrition. They particularly target
third-world countries where a baby's best, if not only, hope for
survival may well be being breastfed by its mother, and where the
quality of the water (required to reconsitute their powdered formula
products) is itself a threat to the health of the children.
Of course, they zealously market their products in violation of the
W.H.O. code here in the United States as well, where the consequence
to babies of being fed formula products rather than being breastfed
is not necessarily increased infant mortality related to poor
nutrition, unsanitary feeding environments and reduced immunities,
but "only" increased incidence of illness, SIDS, allergies, and
reduced acheivement of full IQ potential.
Please understand that this is not an instance of some breastfeeding
zealots simply targeting a company for producing formula. While
breastfeeding is of course best, and preferable whenever possible,
there are certainly instances when formula is necessary. This is,
rather, a case where Nestle has continuously and blatantly violated
the World Health Organization's policies about improper marketing of
formula.
In support of the above, here are some links to various article
regarding the ongoing boycott of Nestle by peoples and organizations
of conscience;
please don't let your fine product become subjected to these same
boycotts!:
http://www.sgvaults.demon.co.uk/boy1.htm
http://www.action4corpacct.org/history.htm
http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVJanFeb92p5.html
Again, I implore you, please please keep your company green, and
baby friendly.
Sincerely,
/s/
Anne P. Mitchell
Attorney at Law
[log in to unmask]
fax: 408-745-0455
Phone: 408-244-204
If your issue remains unresolved, please update your incident at
http://www.rightnowtech.com/cgi-bin/benjerry?r&11-991206-0016&130-94453633
8
You may also update this incident by replying to this message.
Because your reply will be automatically processed, you MUST enter
your reply in the space below. Text entered into any other
part of this message will be discarded.
[===> Please enter your reply below this line <===]
[===> Please enter your reply above this line <===]
---------------------------------------------------------------
The WebHeads at Ben & Jerry's
http://www.benjerry.com
Want the latest scoop on Ben & Jerry's?
Subscribe to our new Online ChunkMail Newsletter -
go to our site and click on the links for "Guestbook" or
"Free Newsletter."
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