SAY NO TO NESTLE

Go on, admit it! Who doesn't like Nescafe, Smarties or Milky bars?

Well, the giant company Nestle makes all of these products. In the spring of 1998, NUS and NUSSL (NUS Services Ltd.) brought to the Union's attention that Nestle was, perhaps, an ethically unsound company.

The international company also produces baby milk formula and this is where the controversy lies.

Back in 1981, WHO (World Health Organisation) and UNICEF produced the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes.

Both organisations want to protect breastfeeding and ensure all mothers and health workers receive impartial information about baby milk formula and ensure companies do not apply commercial pressures on them. The organisations believe mothers have the right to choose freely and without pressure what is best for their children regarding milk. However, both WHO and UNICEF want to ban all promotion of breast milk substitutes and encourage mothers to breastfeed.

Since 1974, Nestle has been accused by both WHO and UNICEF of breaking the spirit of this code. Nestle claim that they are not breaking the code.

Between 1977 and 1984, Nestle looked closely at all their products, in response to a world wide boycott, but WHO and UNICEF claimed they still infringed the code.

In India, Nestle was found to have failed to comply with laws regarding milk labeling.

In 1994, Nestle claimed to have ended free distribution and low-cost selling of baby formula to China. This is illegal under the code. However, In 1995, Nestle were still distributing in China and, in addition, were disturbing government measures to promote breastfeeding as best in third world countries such as Gabon, Uganda and Malawi.

Nestle is a large, profitable, global operation and strives to dominate the market. They target countries which, unfortunately are deprived of true information and knowledge as to what is best for both mother and baby.

The University of Sunderland Students' Union, like NUS, strives to be an ethically correct organisation. We believe that Nestle's promotional methods of its products contravenes the Union's ethical stance. Due to this, a policy was introduced banning the retail of all Nestle products in all Union venues.

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