Rachael, let me add my thanks too for posting the
video. Fascinating. I kept wondering where was the catch...
I SO agree with Maureen's conclusion, "Nestle is
NOT the problem. The entire infant formula
industry IS the problem, and by singling out one
brand, we assist the others, who have behaved at least as badly. "
The video is obviously aimed at the USA, and it's
well done. But also in my experience of Code
matters living and working in a developing
country, Nestle was _not_ the problem, or at
least not as bad a problem as the other two major
companies who marketed infant formula and had
their regional head offices in neighbouring South
Africa. These two companies did everything they
could to by-pass the shiny new Zimbabwean Code,
finally implemented in 2000, including contacting
me, a private practice IBCLC, to see how they
could get around it. I had the very great
pleasure of entertaining both reps - separately -
in my office, handing them newly gazetted copies
of our Code (passed through parliament in 1998)
and explaining that "infant" was defined as a
child under 5 and that there was to be NO
advertising, free samples, etc of formula nor
weaning foods for infants and young children, at
all, ever. I thought they would have
apoplexy. Furthermore Nestle, as the only local
manufacturer, was a member of the multi-sector
Infant Nutrition Committee, convened to monitor
the Code, and this strategy worked so well, as in
set a thief to catch a thief ....
I agree that by singling out one brand, the
others are free to operate out of the
limelight. Actually, not to put too fine a point
on it, I don't really believe that the infant
formula industry as a whole, never mind just one
company, is the problem. Rather, it's the lack
of breastfeeding support by governments around
the world, who not only allow the companies to
market their wares in unethical ways, often by
passing very wishy-washy versions of the Code
and/or turning a blind eye to violations, but
also provide huge endorsement for formula-feeding
by handing out their products for free - eg
Healthy Start and the Nursery Milk Scheme in UK and WIC in USA.
We're making very slow progress towards
attainment of the targets set out in the original
Innocenti Declaration, coming up for it's 25th
anniversary very soon, see
http://www.who.int/about/agenda/health_development/events/innocenti_declaration_1990.pdf
. This important 1990 document on the
protection, promotion and support of exclusive
and continued breastfeeding outllines the need
for reinforcement of a "breastfeeding culture"
and it's vigorous defence against incursions of a
"bottle-feeding culture". It calls for removal
of constraints and influences, including in the
media, that manipulate perceptions and behaviour
towards breastfeeding, often by subtle and
indirect means. So yes, although I deplore some
of the activities of the companies, am I
surprised that they're doing what they can to
make a profit for their share-holders? Not
really - often their activities are perfectly
legal even if completely immoral. Ultimately, I
think we should reserve the major portion of our
indignation about Code violations for our
governments. Governments are supposed to
govern. When they do so by allowing the right to
trade to come before the right to health it's our
governments that we should hold accountable.
Pamela Morrison IBCLC
Rustington, England (who in a past life has had
the singular experience of living in a
dictatorship - but one which fortunately valued
breastfeeding - our Minister of Health was a
signatory to Innocenti. All it takes is enough
political will and almost anything can happen!)
---------------------------------------------------------
did you notice that this video, from start to
finish, showed only Nestle formula even though
Nestle had almost no presence in the USA until it
bought Carnation in the mid 1980s? (and still has
only 15% of the market). Was it just coincidence
that a major American food foundation depicted
Nestle as responsible for US and international
formula sales and growth? Did US companies
threaten to sue if their brands were depicted? Or
were the creators wearing cultural blinkers?
Nestle is NOT the problem. The entire infant
formula industry IS the problem, and by singling
out one brand, we assist the others, who have
behaved at least as badly. US companies were the
most inventive and extravagant marketers, in my
estimation. They paid millions of dollars to
hospitals, provided plans for baby nurseries well
away from mothers, and much more. The potential
problems of formula are as great for US babies as
for babies anywhere else. It is NOT just dirty
water that kills babies in other countries.
I liked the video, except for this obvious
refusal to accept responsibility for American
industry’s role in formula marketing worldwide.
It’s very well done. Just very subliminal
support for US brands, seen wrongly as the good
guys cf. Nestle. Thanks for posting it.
Maureen
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