Nestle boycott

[JodieG]

http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/boycott.html

This website details everything really. I'm sure people have heard this and already boycott them but we've only recently become aware of this and started to boycott them.

On the next link scroll down to the twins postcard photo, it highlights why lots of people feel so strongly about this. Warning the photo is distressing. The first few pics on the link are funny but the twins one is very, very sad.

http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/pcards.html

Basically nestle try and get women in developing coutries to feed their babies formula milk, they start by giving feel samples and then they charge what is about the same as a third of a weekly wage for people in this country for one tin. So the mother dilutes the milk more which is bad for the baby and also has to use dirty water to make the bottles, this results in those babies getting ill a lot more than the breastfed babies. Nestle also "encourages" the doctors to promote the milk too in various ways. Have a look around the website and it's all there.

I realise there are lots of things wrong in the world but this is an issue close to home for me having children myself and it's a start I suppose. I know that one person boycotting won't make much difference but each individual adds up to lots of people and the more that do it the less money they'll be earning and maybe the more they'll think about what they should be doing or at least change the way they do things.

[Kell_ee001]

I have to admit I've been aware of this boycott for a long time.

I do avoid their products generally although I'll be honest and say that I don't 100% boycott them.

[Dr. Z]

The people there have a choice whether to spend their wages on the products or not, just like mothers do here.

Why don't the mothers there boycott them instead? If its a third of a weeks wages to buy a tin and buying a tin cripples their family then whose fault is it if they are broke? They have a choice not to buy it, its not the big bad man in the suits twisting their arms up their backs or putting an AK to their head to get them to buy their stuff.

If the target market stops buying the product it might make them make it cheaper. Not buying milky bars here wont make a blind bit of difference.

[mejinks]

Total waste of time tbh. Nestle make so many things, the only way to boycott them would be to eat nothing but home grown veg and meat from livestock you raise and kill yourself.

These people seem to be obsessed with creating bad publicity and making wild statements to support their claim. Its unfortunate that this happens, but what about the poor African women who don't have enough nutrients to produce breast milk? Instead of boycotting the Nestle product, why aren't people funding more research and buying stocks for mothers who cannot produce breast milk?

This website relies on vague links to statements made by WHO and the like. They seem to be insinuating that Nestle are responsible for 1.5 million child deaths each year. Nonsense! 1.5 million children die in Africa because not enough aid is available to help these people, instead of wasting time on stupid boycotts and scaremongering, maybe babymilkaction should be concentrating its efforts on raising awareness and getting aid to Africa.

What people have forgotten is that the problems in Africa still exist, they need our continual support. Instead of pointless exercises, such as boycotting, people should try donating their time and money. A good place would be here (http://www.oxfam.org/en/getinvolved/index.htm).

[Pumpkinstew]

I've been boycotting Nestle since 1999 or so when the Exeter Uni shop stoppped stocking their products.
My one concession is polos, which I cannot live without.

I miss Toffee Crisps like you wouldn't believe though :(

[Feek]

If you eat one product, you're not really boycotting them. It's like being slightly pregnant, or nearly a virgin. It's either a boycott or it's not, surely?

[Mark]

I agree with Feek.

I can understand why people who choose to boycott Nestle do so but it's not something I have any particular desire to do myself.

[Pumpkinstew]

If you eat one product, you're not really boycotting them. It's like being slightly pregnant, or nearly a virgin. It's either a boycott or it's not, surely?

You're right. But like I said it's the only exception I make. I have tried to switch to alternate mints but it just doesn't feel right.

If I said I actively avoided Nestle products, with the one exception of polos (which I was addicted to before they were Nestle) would that be fairer?

[Pumpkinstew]

The people there have a choice whether to spend their wages on the products or not, just like mothers do here.

Why don't the mothers there boycott them instead? If its a third of a weeks wages to buy a tin and buying a tin cripples their family then whose fault is it if they are broke? They have a choice not to buy it, its not the big bad man in the suits twisting their arms up their backs or putting an AK to their head to get them to buy their stuff.

If the target market stops buying the product it might make them make it cheaper. Not buying milky bars here wont make a blind bit of difference.

Well mostly it's education. Or a lack of it.
Every mother and father wants whats best for their children and if some slick advertising says that a baby formula is absolutely the best thing out there they'll break the bank to get it.
Not everyone in the developing world has the same cynicism regarding advertising that you and I have developed.

[After_8]

It's worth pointing out that in the poorer parts of Africa, formula milk IS considerably better than breast milk, as breast feeding is a very large contributor to the spread of STDs, particularly HIV in those areas.

Additionally, I really don't see the point of boycotting Nestlé products. If you don't agree with what they do, fine, but boycotting them really isn't going to make any difference at all. It would be more effective to try to get the mass media on your side and get some bad publicity spread around. Silently not using the company's products only gives you a fake satisfaction because you think you're helping people without having to put any effort in.

[Will]

I must admit complete ignorance to what a lot of retailers/manufacturers do. Things such as animal testing - it sounds awful and it looks awful, but I don't really think about the products I buy and don't actively look for things suggesting it's "good". Like Nestle, I probably buy lots of Nestle products completely unaware of what they're doing. Upon discovery of what it is I doubt it'll ever stop me from purchasing that product - they tend to die a natural death if they're bad enough anyway, either through media/publicity or generally more obvious means. Boycotting tends to be done by hypocrites from what I've experienced.