Conscious Breastfeeding Moms Support Nestle Boycott

This week just passed, 4 October- 10 October, marked the 20′th anniversary of the second Nestle Boycott.  The first began in 1977 and was suspended in 1984 when Nestle appeared to be undertaking measures to abide by the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.  Monitoring over the intervening years showed many violations and the boycott was resumed in 1988 and continues today.

As a nurse, lactation consultant and passionate advocate for breastfeeding mothers and their babies, I have engaged in my own personal boycott.  This has not always been easy as the long arm of the Nestle corporation has extended its reach by expanding its businesses to include bottled water, pet food and cosmetic companies among many others in their vast empire.   The list of their holdings includes many popular consumer brands.  Nestle Boycott List

In the very informative blog put out by Baby Milk Action, Boycott Nestle-and other action to promote infant health, Mike Grady recounts the legal challenges posed by Nestle for the launching of the new website, http://www.nestlecritics.org  which was timed to coincide with this anniversary. 

Mike says, “The whole point of the site is to provide objective, independent information to people who want to know if Nestlé’s words are reflected in its actions.”

Nestle is the largest food company in the world. The recent contaminated formula tragedy in China and Asia causing the illness of so many infants involves them as well as their competitors.  We need to be vigilant in protecting our food supply, especially for our babies.  Formula and pet food have been shown to be susceptible to breaks in manufacturing quality control causing illness, and in some cases death, for large numbers of infants and pets.

I encourage you to continue Consciously Breastfeeding…

And, join me in the Nestle Boycott.  Buy a different mascara, cereal or water.  Check the list and exercise your power as a consumer.  Nestle puts profits before health and thus it is only when they notice an impact upon their bottom-line that they will they take heed of the need to abide by the Code.

 It is especially important that we lend our voice and our support to these efforts.