Dear Lactnetters, All my comments are in italics. Given the recent
discussion about the WHO code, I thought you might want to read what Nestle
has to say on the issue at their own web site.  If you want to see for
yourself, it is at:

http://www.nestle.com/html/a2b.html

Keep in mind: If you want to defeat your enemy, you have to understand
them.
Here is the web site text in it's entirety.
<<<<<<<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What was the controversy on infant formula about?
 Answer:>A boycott was launched in 1977 against Nestle and our products by
activists in the United States who were concerned at the marketing
practices of infant formula by the industry in the Developing World. This
lead to the adoption in 1981 by the World Health Assembly of the World
Health Organization of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk
Substitutes. This stated that there was a 'legitimate market' for infant
formula. The aim of the Code is to ensure safe and adequate nutrition, not
only through the protection and promotion of breast feeding, but also by
ensuring the proper use of breast-milk substitutes 'when these are
necessary' and through 'appropriate marketing'. The Code says that, in the
developing world, breast-milk substitutes should not be promoted directly
to the consumer, but through the medical profession. Nestle immediately
announced its support for the principles and aim of the Code, and a year
later set up the independent Nestle Infant Formula Audit Commission,
chaired by former US Senator and Secretary of State Edmund Muskie. The
boycott was lifted in 1984, and in 1991, the commission reached the
conclusion that its mandate - to advise the company on its implementation
of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes - had
been achieved, and it was formally dissolved.

Nestle infant formula marketing policies have been persistently
mis-represented by groups and individuals, and have led to attempts in
several countries to re-launch boycott action. We would like to set the
record straight. Below is our policy for marketing infant formula as it
applies in developing countries.(1)

Nestle:
DOES encourage and support exclusive breast-feeding as the best choice for
babies during the first months of life

DOES warn mothers of the consequences of incorrect or inappropriate use of
infant formula

DOES believe that there is a legitimate market for infant formula when a
safe alternative to breast milk is needed

DOES believe that parents have the right to choose how their babies are to
be fed on the basis of adequate and objective information

DOES comply with both the letter and the spirit of the World Health
Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes

DOES support efforts by governments to implement the International Code
through legislation, regulation or other appropriate measures

DOES encourage sustained breast-feeding after the introduction of
complementary foods

DOES NOT advertise infant formula to the public in developing countries

DOES NOT permit its staff to make direct contact with mothers except in
response to consumer complaints

DOES NOT give incentives to its staff based on infant formula sales

DOES NOT use pictures of babies on its infant formula packs

DOES NOT distribute free infant formula samples to mothers

DOES NOT give financial or material incentives to health care professionals
for the purpose of promoting infant formula

DOES NOT allow educational material relating to the use of infant formula
to be displayed publicly in hospitals and clinics

DOES NOT donate free infant formula for use by healthy newborn babies
except in exceptional social cases (e.g. where government policy allows
manufacturers to respond to a specific medical request, such as if the
mother dies in childbirth)

WILL take disciplinary measures against any Nestle personnel or distributor
who deliberately violates this policy.


(1) All countries of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, the
Caribbean nations, and the Pacific nations except Japan, Republic of Korea,
Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong (until July 1 1997). In developed
countries, Nestle respects National Codes, regulations and/or other
applicable legislation relating to the marketing of infant formula.


Nestle invites government officials, health professionals and consumers to
draw to its attention any Nestle infant formula marketing practices in
developing countries which they consider are not in conformity with the
above commitment.
<<<<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Please don't kill the messenger, I am only showing you what they are saying
and how they are distorting the intent of the code.
I could not find an email address for them, their web site at

http://www.nestle.com/html/q.html       is set up for comments. Keep in mind
that you may not want them to have your email address!!!!!

Some other tidbits from their web site:

Who owns Nestle?         Answer:>About 200,000 shareholders -- mostly individuals
rather than institutions -- are the owners of Nestle. About half of the
shareholders are Swiss and the next largest group is U.S. citizens,
followed by shareholders from Great Britain and France.

What country is Nestle's largest individual market?      Answer:>With sales of
$7.5 billion US dollars in 1995, a total staff of 20,000 and 64 factories,
the United States is Nestle's most important market.

How much food does Nestle produce overall?      Answer:>Anywhere between 10 and
11 million tons of food and beverages each year.

Has Nestle ever voluntarily withdrawn from a country?   Answer:>No. Some
Nestle operations have been nationalized in the wake of wars or communist
takeovers. In a very few countries, national legislation was amended in
such a way that the local Nestle operation could not maintain its
production facilities without incurring large losses. In those cases,
factories were either sold or closed and Nestle limited its activity to
marketing imported products.

How much profit does Nestle make per year?      Answer:>In 1996, net profit was
CHF 3.4 billion (US$ 2.29 billion) and CHF 2.9 billion (US$ 1.954 billion)
in 1995. (US $ figures are based on PRESENT exchange rates as of today, and
were added by me)

And where does it go?   Answer:>CHF 1.045 billion (704 MILLION) (slightly
over 34 percent) was paid out in dividends to our 200,000 shareholders; the
rest was reinvested in the Company.


Jon Ahrendsen MD FAAFP
Clarion, IOWA