Comments on: Nestle Answers: Don’t mind the small print about breast being best

By: Tell Nestlé that formula doesn’t PROTECT babies | PhD in Parenting

Tell Nestlé that formula doesn’t PROTECT babies | PhD in Parenting — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:50:23 +0000

[...] wrote about this issue previously when I asked Nestlé about the wording on its labels. Here is a brief excerpt of my key point from that post: Nestle is right that this label contains a [...]

By: Nestle Answers: Shifting Blame for Infant Deaths | PhD in Parenting

Nestle Answers: Shifting Blame for Infant Deaths | PhD in Parenting — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:02:23 +0000

[...] fact, Nestle packaging has big letters telling moms how the formula “PROTECTS” with only very …. Perhaps the product should have a plain label with no nutritional claims that very clearly warns [...]

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:28:03 +0000

@Bettina:

Don’t give the communications guys at Nestle all the credit. Look up Marcus Thomas LLC and Fishburn Hedges. I suspect they are getting a bit of professional help with their spin from reputation management and crisis communication experts.

By: Al_Pal

Al_Pal — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:07:55 +0000

Sheeesh, that IS small print!
;(

By: Mike Brady

Mike Brady — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:38:32 +0000

I totally agree Kathy. Last week the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) launched its latest chart assessing the state of the International Code around the world. There are 63 countries that have legislation implementing most or many of the Code’s provisions.

Groups around the world are campaigning to introduce or strengthen national measures. We produced a report looking at the lessons learned from experiences in 7 countries – some where campaigning had succeeded and others where the industry lobby had derailed these efforts. You can download the report at:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/publications01.html#checks

We run campaigns as necessary to support governments that are facing opposition from the formula industry. A recent success was in support of the Philippines. You can see what it took on this blog:
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2007/10/philippines-saving-lives.html

At the IBFAN meeting, reference was made to an industry report produced by Euromonitor International in 2008. This warned companies: “Government Regulation a Growing Constraint”. It stated: “The industry is fighting a rearguard action against regulation on a country-by-country basis.” And: “There are significant international variations in the regulations governing the marketing of milk formula, which are reflected in sales differences across countries.”

This is what we are up against. Implementing the Code protects breastfeeding, which is bad news for formula companies interested only in profits. In Brazil, regulations and efforts to promote breastfeeding have seen median duration of breastfeeding increase from 3 months in the 1980s to 10 months today. That means lost sales to the formula industry. We have had to repeatedly defend the Brazilian regulations from efforts to weaken them in the congress.

While there is much that still needs to be done, we can take some comfort from the fact that the industry is feeling constrained, at least in some countries.

By: Does Nestlé formula really ‘protect’ babies? | Health News

Does Nestlé formula really ‘protect’ babies? | Health News — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:44:37 +0000

[...] of poverty, more likely to die. There is a good analysis of Nestlé’s response on the PhD in Parenting blog, showing the ‘protect’ logo on the Malawi tin we have been highlighting (click on the [...]

By: KAthy

KAthy — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:03:57 +0000

Truly legistlation is the best way to go on this issue (just like legistlation is the best way to go with environmental issues). Formula companies are simply not going to voluntarily comply with “suggestions” as they see it. What can we do so that our contries pass and enforce some new laws on this? That is what we should be thinking about.

By: Does Nestlé formula really ‘protect’ babies? | Nutrition Blog

Does Nestlé formula really ‘protect’ babies? | Nutrition Blog — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:14:00 +0000

By: Summer

Summer — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:02:15 +0000

Out of curiosity I went to the store tonight to look, since I’ve never been close and personal with a can of formula. The GoodStart by Nestle had teeny tiny print in the very top on the side, I had to spin it several times to find the breastmilk wording. Then I found something called Nido Kinder, that is some sort of formula/milk replacer for toddlers. It says kids over 1 year. No where on it have anything about breastfeeding. I’m assuming it’s Nestle because it was among the other Nestle items, though it was the local Hispanic store so it may not be.

By: smoaksmom

smoaksmom — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:37:59 +0000

I see your point. Thank you for clarifying.

It makes me think of how one mama was telling me at the Dept of Social Services there were two posters next to each other. One advocating the benefits of breastfeeding and the other advocating how great formula is. Kinda confusing to mothers (especially young mothers) getting on the WIC program, which provides formula whether they need it or not!