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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