Patricia posted about a free booklet: "Of course it was from
Nestle......But to my
surprize there was NOTHING about formula feeding or when to do so, etc...
Most of the information was good.
Must be the wolf in sheeps clothing "
We should remember that the global Strategy (which incorporates, updates and
re-emphasises the urgency of Innocenti, BFHI, ILO and calls for national
strategies) notes that there are two and two only constructive roles for
manufacturers of formula:
1) meet standards set for quality of processed foods they produce (Codex)
2) all manufacturers and distributors of products under the scope of the
WHO Code and subsequent WHA resolutions should monitor their marketing
practices and ensure they conform to the Code, Resolutions and national law
Last year Nestle changed a policy of over a decade (becasue recruitment of
university grads to the company was in decline in the UK) and agreed to meet
Baby Milk Action in debates set up in universities around the UK. At one
such debate I represented BMA (along with Andrea who then worked in the
office). The two women from Nestle put their case, we put ours and there
was some back and forth and audience questions. The Nestle people made the
point that they provide lovely breastfeeding literature, and I countered
that this is NOT THEIR JOB, their job is simply to do the above and let
others get on with providing independent information aobut breastfeeding,
infant feeding in general etc. We don't look to British American Tobacco to
supply literature and training for smoking cessation -- do we??????
One of the Nestle women in this debate is from Sri Lanka, and, I get the
feeling, its part of their strategy 'look, I am a real working mother from
the third world'. It gave me enormous satisfaction to have the newly
released copy of 'Selling mothers and babies out' and to speak about *my*
country -- I come from just next to the border of Oakland, California, so
deprivation unlike that usually found anywhere in the UK is in my
backyard -- and the danger of infant feeding decisions based on marketing.
Incidentally, the motion (for the student union to stop supporting the
Nestle boycott) was about to come to a vote, when the sutdent who had
proposed the motion said she would like to withdraw it on the basis of the
debate!!!! A nice moment, even though by then it was after 10 pm and I had
over a hundred miles to drive home.
Magda Sachs
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK
Area Contact and Advisor, Baby Milk Action (IBFAN), UK
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