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

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html