Here is another way that a prominent public figure, a children's book
writer, decided to 'make a statement.' For those of you who have not heard
about it lately (ever?), Nestle Corporation was censured by WHO many years
ago for unethical promotion of infant formula in poor countries leading
to many unnecessary deaths in infants, and they have yet to show that
their practices have significantly changed.

This story was sent out by an APHA member who has protested APHA's
acceptance of Nestle money this year to support the annual meeting.

Mary Anne

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:15:15 -0500
From: Miriam Labbok <labbok@...>
Reply-To: Sender@...
To: Friends of IYCF - Contacts <friends_of_iycf@...>
Subject: [friends_of_iycf] Children's authors reject formula money - how can we
in public health do otherwise?

Dear Friend of Infant and Young Child Feeding and Care:
Dear Friends:

Industry news is that Nestle is planning to purchase Bristol-Meyer-Squibb
nutrition products. This will include Mead Johnson, if it goes through,
returning us to asymmetry in the US formula market, with Nestle owning 2
of the 3 major producers. Meanwhile, authors of children's and teen books
have rejected Nestle monies. How can we, who say we support the health of
the public, still be seen to partner with the infant formula industry?
What was necessary for us to stop accepting tobacco money? Was it the
number of deaths? If so, we should have stopped working with the formula
industry decades ago....

*Nestlé Children's Book Prize winner refuses Nestlé money - Sean Taylor
rejects cheque
**Press release 12 December 2007

*See on-line version for links to supporting documents and images of
Nestlé baby food marketing malpractice at:
_http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press12dec07.html
_
Children's author, Sean Taylor, was announced today as the Gold Medal
Winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize, under-5 category, for his
book When a Monster is Born illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Orchard
Books). In an open letter Mr. Taylor indicated that he would not accept
the prize money for the award which is sponsored by Nestlé. He commented:

/"Being on the short list for the 2007 Nestlé Children's book Prize
is a significant honour for me, especially since so many children
around the country have been involved in choosing the winning books.
And I am delighted to accept the award offered to me.

"However, because of questions surrounding Nestlé's marketing of
breast-milk substitutes, I do not feel able to accept the prize money.

"This has not been a decision I have taken lightly. It has involved
conversations with Baby Milk Action (a campaign group against
Nestlé), Nestlé themselves, and an authoritative third party with
experience in the field (who wishes to remain nameless)."
/


Baby Milk Action is concerned by Nestlé's record of aggressive marketing
of baby foods, which contributes to the unnecessary death and suffering
of infants around the world. Companies should be abiding by
international marketing standards adopted by the World Health Assembly,
but Nestlé, the market leader, continues to produce systematic and
widespread violations of the marekting requirements. These are defended
at the most senior levels of the company.

According to Nestlé Global Public Affairs Manager, Dr. Gayle Crozier
Willi, Nestlé is 'widely boycotted'.

Nestlé is also accused of failing to act on reports of child slavery in
its cocoa supply chain.

In his letter, Mr. Taylor commented: /"In the light of these
conversations, it is apparent to me that many of Nestlé's controversial
activities took place in the past and that the company has taken steps
to improve its practice."/ However, a new global monitoring report
launched this month shows on-going aggressive practices. Nestlé defended
the practice of branding babies in China from birth shown on the website
just yesterday.

Mr. Taylor concluded:

/"Nevertheless, it is my view that their interpretation of the
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes sets up
the risk that profit is put before infant health. And, in addition,
it seems that the actions of some of their employees on the ground
are inconsistent with company policy as set out in the Head Office.

"For these reasons I do not feel that Nestlé are the most
appropriate sponsors for this major children's book prize."
/


For the full text of the letter and further comment see Baby Milk Action
Campaigns Coordinators blog via the on-line version at:
_http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press12dec07.html
_
Nestlé is sponsoring the children's book prize organised by the
Booktrust. The book prize is a scheme where short-listed books are
distributed to a number of schools, whose students vote for their
favourites. Campaigners say Nestlé involvement is an attempt to divert
criticism from its activities, improve its image amongst students and
reposition itself as a responsible company.

Mike Brady , Campaigns and Networking Coordinator at Baby Milk Action, said:

/"The global monitoring report just launched by the International
Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) shows that Nestlé's claim to have
changed only goes as far as tactics - the strategy of undermining
breastfeeding to increase sales of formula remains unchanged.

"I appreciate the difficult situation Mr. Taylor was put in by the
choice of Nestlé as a sponsor for this prize and applaud him
speaking out publicly about his concerns. Let us hope the organisers
and the public take notice and Nestlé will again appreciate that its
cheque book does not buy it a good image. It must abide by
internationally-agreed standards."
/


The main element of the sponsorship appears to be providing public
relations services to the prize through the PR company, Spreckley's.

Spreckley is a specialist in:

"CRISIS AND ISSUES MANAGEMENT -- All businesses face problems at some
point and the best strategy is to be prepared. We can help clients
devise a crisis and issues strategy plan, as well as providing counsel
and advice when incidents arises."

In addition to its aggressive marketing of baby foods, Nestlé has been
taken to court in the United States by the International Labour Rights
Fund (ILRF) for failing to act to end child slavery in its cocoa supply
chain in the Ivory Coast (click here for details). Nestlé has also
refused to support moves to bring farmers within the Fairtrade scheme in
Ivory Coast, meaning registered farmers are unable to sell all of their
produce within the scheme. Nestlé buys the surplus on the open market at
lesser prices, according to ILRF. If cocoa is bought within the
Fairtrade scheme the farmers are guaranteed a fair prize and are paid a
community surplus used to ensure children go to school.

In 2003 the Booktrust scrapped plans for a Nestlé teenage book prize
after leading authors said they would refuse to accept it. This has gone
ahead with a charitable trust backing it instead.

--
Miriam H. Labbok, MD, MPH
FACPM, IBCLC/RLC, FABM
Professor of the Practice of Public Health
Director, Center for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Care
Department of Maternal and Child Health
School of Public Health, CB#7445
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445
Tel: 919-966-0928
Fax: 919-966-0458
labbok@...
http://www.sph.unc.edu/mch/ciycfc
(associated blog - http://enabling-breastfeeding.blogspot.com)
[Address for Visitors: 421 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516]

The Center for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Care in the School of Public
Health at UNC-Chapel Hill was established January 2006 and exists to further
statewide, national and global understanding and support for the mother/child
dyad as key to the achievement of optimal infant and young child feeding and
associated reproductive health.




---
Miriam H Labbok, MD, MPH
FACPM, IBCLC, FABM
Professor of the Practice of Public Health
Director, Center for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Care
Department of Maternal and Child Health
School of Public Health, CB#7445
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445
Tel: 919-966-0928
Fax: 919-966-0458
labbok@...
www.sph.unc.edu/mhch/ciycfc
(associated blog - http://enabling-breastfeeding.blogspot.com)

The Center for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Care in the School of Public
Health at UNC-Chapel Hill was established in 2006 and exists to further
statewide, national and global understanding and support for the mother/child
dyad as key to the achievement of optimal infant and young child feeding and
associated reproductive health.