PHM-Exch> Nestle claims its formula is the new 'Gold Standard'

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Patti Rundall prundall at babymilkaction.org

*From: *Mike Brady <mikebrady at babymilkaction.org>


You have probably heard that breastmilk is the 'gold standard' for infant
nutrition.

Babies who are not breastfed are at greater risk of short and long-term
illness, and baby food companies often say they are trying to improve their
products to bring them closer to the 'gold standard' of breastmilk.

However, Nestlé's latest marketing campaign claims that its formula is 'The
new "Gold Standard" in infant nutrition'. You can see the proof here:
http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog260510

Nestlé also claims its formula 'protects' babies, 'reduces diarrhoea',
benefits 'brain and eye development' and a whole host of claims that do not
stand up to scrutiny, mislead and endanger babies. These idealising claims
undermine breastfeeding and are prohibited by the International Code of
Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, adopted by the World Health Assembly in
1981.

The arrival of Mr. Paul Bulcke as Chief Executive Officer in April 2008
appears to have brought a change for the worst in Nestlé.

When Mr. Brabeck was Chief Executive, Nestlé at least claimed to support the
World Health Assembly marketing standards. Now its current line in response
to our ongoing email campaign is, 'the World Health Assembly does not
formulate marketing standards – rather it makes health policy
recommendations to Member States.'

This not only ignores the Code, but the subsequent Resolutions which say,
for example, that the Assembly, 'CALLS UPON infant food manufacturers and
distributors to comply fully with their responsibilities under the
International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent,
relevant World Health Assembly resolutions.'

At the same time as promoting its formula as the new 'Gold Standard', Nestlé
has revised its anti-boycott website. It was recently reported that Nestlé
was recruiting a new public relations firm to improve its dismal image on
the internet.

Nestlé says on its new-look site, 'Nestlé agrees with the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and other leading medical and health associations that
breast-milk is the best and most natural food for babies.' Clearly untrue
when Nestlé promotes its formula as the 'new "Gold Standard" in infant
nutrition and hides required information on breastfeeding in text almost too
small to read (take a look on the link).

Nestlé has created a fantasy parallel reality. What Nestlé says it does and
what it really does are directly opposite.

At the moment Nestlé clearly thinks it can get away with the strategy.
Please help us to expose it by sharing this message and sending emails to
Nestlé via our campaign page at:
http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog260510

http://www.babymilkaction.org/

HAVE YOU SIGNED THE ONE MILLION CAMPAIGN PETITION YET???
http://www.onemillioncampaign.org/


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