Thanks, (well, more like YIKES!)  Heleen Hayes (Amsterdam) and Norma Ritter (USA) have just alerted us that Nestle started a healthy youth program in Amsterdam in May of  2011and Gerber (owned by Nestle) announced on February 1, 2012, that they are planning a program in the (whole?) State of Michigan to "educate" families, hospitals & medical schools etc. about childhood obesity.  These programs are a conflict of interest.

So what are we going to do about what is happening?  The Innocenti Declaration calls for Breastfeeding to be Protected, Promoted and Supported.  Note "protected" is listed first.  It is not fair to encourage women to breastfeed and then allow the companies to undermine their efforts by unethically peddling their formulas and baby foods.

The situation in the Netherlands is different than in the US because the Netherlands, (please correct me if I should say Holland) have endorsed the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions. You can look up on the Internet under "State of the Code By Country" to find out if parts or all of the Code have been made into law. But no matter, your country has endorsed the Code (as Canada has) so you can use it.  I would get in touch with IBFAN, (International Baby Food Action Network) first of all to alert them to what is happening and secondly to find out if there is a active group in the Netherlands.  IBFAN has excellent materials and they will support a country but it is up to the country to do most of the work as they oversee the whole world and all the formula companies. Pretty daunting, especially since as soon as one marketing tactic is stopped the companies come up with something new (hence the subsequent Resolutions of the Code).  Baby Milk Action, in the UK, coordinates the Nestle Boycott. They will also give you advice and have excellent materials.

And in the US, we need every American on Lactnet to see what is happening in their State and report back. Who in the States would be willing to compile this information, State by State?  We need to see how wide-spread Nestle's programs are and combine our action.This will make our action much stronger.   Who in Michigan wants to be the "Maria Parlapiano" of Michigan?  Actually, I would suggest 2 or 3 (more if interested - hard to work alone) form a committee and one of your group contact Maria and myself for a brainstorming session. And Marsha Walker are you in on this?   And we need to get the Surgeon General and the First Lady to help us. 

Some of you have been boycotting Nestle for years but what do you think? Why doesn't every person on Lactnet boycott?  Nestle owns many companies but I will get a list and post.   

Hi Nestle - we know you're lurking but unlike you, who pretends to be concerned about children and health we really care. 

Renee Hefti - Graham
Vancouver, Canada

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