-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 21. september 1999 22:04
Subject: RE: Your e-mail


>
>
>Ref Number: 1158702366
>
>Deanne Francis
>
>,
>
>Dear Deanne Francis:
>
>Thank you for your email  expressing your concerns about the welfare of
infants
>in the developing world.  We at Nestle share your concerns and would like
to
>take this opportunity to tell you about Nestle's ongoing efforts to improve
the
>health of infants and young children in developing countries.
>
>The principles that have guided our efforts were based on the "Nestle Plan
of
>Action for Infant and Young Child Feeding," published in December of 1990.
>This plan was the culmination of many meetings with international agencies,
>governments and individuals concerned with primary health care in
developing
>countries.
>
>One of the major thrusts of the plan was to terminate all donations of
infant
>formula to hospitals that might discourage breast-feeding.  The most
effective
>way to accomplish this was on an industry-wide basis through government or
>health ministry involvement in every developing nation.
>
>With this in mind, in December of 1990, Nestle announced its intention to
work
>with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) to end all free or low
cost
>supplies of infant formula to hospitals.  The one exception was for the
limited
>number of children, as prescribed by the WHO, who need formula.  Our action
was
>closely followed by the full membership of International Association of
Infant
>Food Manufacturers (IFM) with similar commitments to WHO or UNICEF.
>
>In June of 1991, Nestle and IFM agreed with WHO and UNICEF to set as a goal
the
>termination of free and low cost supplies to maternity wards and hospitals
in
>developing countries by the close of 1992.  IFM also committed itself to a
>"country by country process aimed at the development by governments of
>regulatory or other official measures as appropriate."  This agreement was
the
>industries' contribution to a world-wide program called the 'Baby Friendly
>Hospitals.'
>
>To launch the program, the Director General of WHO and The Executive
Director
>of UNICEF issued a joint letter addressed to all Heads of State.  This was
>followed by a letter from IFM to all Ministries of Health in developing
>countries pledging industries' support of the initiative.  Nestle then
>instructed its subsidiaries to request rapid government action to develop
>programs that would lead to the removal of free supplies from hospitals.
>
>Twelve countries were selected for the initial launch of the Program.  This
>initiative was so successful that in February of 1992 UNICEF and WHO
announced
>the expansion of the program to all of the remaining developing countries.
>
>At the February 1-2, 1993 meeting of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Committee on
Health
>Policy in Geneva the 'Baby Friendly Hospitals' initiative was reviewed.  In
a
>press release following the meetings it was reported that 122 developing
>countries had stopped the practice of distributing free or low cost
supplies of
>infant formula to maternity wards and hospitals.  The release went on to
say:
>"These 122 countries together account for more than 95% of the highly
>vulnerable population of infants and young children in the developing
world."
>
>What about the remaining five percent?  Nestle and the IFM are committed to
>working with the WHO and UNICEF to encourage the few remaining countries to
>remove all free and low cost supplies from hospitals.
>
>The "Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative" illustrates what can be done when
>everyone works together.  Quite extraordinary results were achieved in only
15
>months.
>
>Nestle and IFM continue discussions with WHO and UNICEF concerning other
>programs that would contribute to the welfare of infants and children.
>
>What is the Boycott Issue?
>In the late 1970's concerns were raised about marketing infant formula in
>developing countries.  Religious and activist organizations led a boycott
>against Nestle calling for a change in marketing practices for infant
formula.
>
>Resolution of the Boycott
>All parties involved with this controversy, including religious
organizations,
>international agencies, activist groups and unions, were pleased when the
>United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), adopted an International
Code
>for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in 1981.  The WHO Code set the
>guidelines and recommendations for marketing in developing countries.
Nestle
>adopted the Code and immediately began to adapt company policies to meet
WHO
>requirements.
>
>U.S. and the WHO Code
>The United States chose not to adopt the WHO code in 1981.  The United
States
>views the Code as:
>Promoting restriction of trade
>Against constitutional rights for freedom of speech.
>Restricting parents right to make informed feeding decisions
>
>Nestle abides by the WHO code for manufacturing of infant formulas in all
>countries that have adopted the code.
>Nestle supports the spirit of the code in the United States with the
promotion
>of breastfeeding in our advertisements and on the label of our infant
formulas.
>
>The United States voted against the WHO Code when it was passed in 1981,
>because it was counter to U.S. laws governing freedom speech and could be
>interpreted to cover foods other than infant formula.  The current Director
>General of WHO has clearly stated that the WHO Code was passed in the form
of a
>recommendation, which countries could adopt totally, partially, or choose
to
>ignore.  The United States choose to not to implement it.
>
>Our comments are provided as general information only.  Your pediatrician
is
>the best source of advice about your baby's diet and development.
>
>We invite you to visit our BABYsite again at www.verybestbaby.com.  We
>appreciate hearing from you and we wish you and your family the very best!
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Robyn Wimberly RD. LD.
>Manager, Consumer Services Nestle Nutrition Division

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