The tables below give details of some recent violations. The date when the violation was last reported to Baby Milk Action or confirmed to be current is given. The violation reference is for Baby Milk Action's records. Please quote it if forwarding correspondence to us, if possible.

• Nestlé advertises infant formula in Bulgaria
• Wyeth (SMA) distributes free samples in UK magazine
• Nestlé offensive in Singapore

Nestlé advertises infant formula in Bulgaria

The International Code bans the advertising of breastmilk substitutes. Health workers are given responsibility for advising parents on infant feeding. In recent years Western companies have moved aggressively into the countries of Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union where controls on marketing are still being developed.

The group Women and Mothers Against Violence launched the Nestlé boycott in Bulgaria in August 1999 to target the global market leader and to raise awareness of the issue (see Boycott News 26).

Nestlé has been advertising infant formula in parenting magazines. Other companies are advertising follow-on formulas, which are also breastmilk substitutes and are covered by the International Code.

Let the companies know they are under scrutiny by writing to the following Chief Executives using the suggestion given below as a model.

Write to: Mr. Peter Brabeck-Letmathé, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé S.A. 55, Av. Nestlé. CH-1800 Vevey, Switzerland (Fax: +41 21 921 1885):

Nestlé advertises Nan 1 infant formula in Bulgaria (see the evidence on this website). Nestlé also encourages mothers to sign up to its "Mothers Caress" club to receive free mailings. Mothers are asked to provide information about their infants and the clinic they visit. Article 5.5 of the International Code bans company marketing staff from seeking direct or indirect contact with mothers of infants or young children.

Write to: Mr. Klaas de Jonge, Director, Numico, Rokkeveemseweg 49, 2712 PJ Zoetermeer, Netherlands. (Fax: +31 79 3539 620):

NUMICO advertises follow-on formulas including Nutricia Nutrilon, Milupa Aptamil and Milupa Milumil.

Key points for letters:

You could send a message of support to the Bulgarian Nestlé boycott group: Women and Mothers Against Violence, Apartment 18 , Block 40A, 1233 Struga Str., Sofia, Bulgaria. Fax: +359 2 453048.

Wyeth (SMA) distributes free samples in UK magazine

The International Code bans provision of free samples of breastmilk substitutes to pregnant women and mothers under Article 5.2. Breastmilk substitutes include "bottle-fed complementary foods" marketed to replace breastmilk (see the scope of the International Code, Article 2). Follow-on formulas come within this description. Wyeth is distributing free sachets of SMA Progress ("just the right amount to make a single feed") in the parenting magazine "Pregnancy & Birth" (stuck to the June 2000 advertisement shown here).

 

The advertisement asks: "New SMA Sachets. When do you use yours? Convenient to carry. Handy at home. Simple for shopping. A doddle for dads (and mums). Less bother for busy mums. Natural for nursery." Wyeth attempts to move the product outside the scope of the International Code by stating in text which is almost too small to be read: "SMA Progress is not intended to replace breastfeeding." There is no mention of the negative effect on breastfeeding of introducing partial bottle feeding.

Mothers are also encouraged to contact the SMA "Careline", which violates Article 5.5 of the International Code on seeking contact with mothers.

(Wyeth (SMA), has promoted its products to midwives in the past by offering manicures - see Update 22. At a recent conference it attempted to catch attention with a team of jugglers!).

Write to: Mr. John R Stafford, CEO, Wyeth, PO Box 8616, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, USA. Fax: +1 610 688 6228. If you are in the UK you can also complain to your local Trading Standards Office (contact details in the telephone book).

Key points for letters:

Wyeth is violating Article 5.2 of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in the UK by distributing free samples of SMA Progress to pregnant women and mothers through the magazine Parenting & Birth (June 2000). Please stop this practice immediately and give an undertaking that you will abide by the International Code and susbequent, relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions in the UK in future. In advertisements your company is encouraging mothers to contact the SMA "Careline". This violates Article 5.5 of the International Code which states: "Marketing personnel, in their business capacity, should not seek direct or indirect contact of any kind with pregnant women or with mothers of infants and young children." Please stop this practice.

Nestlé offensive in Singapore

Nestlé is targeting pregnant mothers in Singapore with a baby club, which promises a newsletter with "useful tips on nutrition, babycare, weaning and more." While the materials do not directly mention infant formula, Nestlé is using the club to promote other breastmilk substitutes and infant foods. Targeting pregnant mothers with an aritificial feeding philosophy undermines breastfeeding. Baby Milk Action has confirmed with UNICEF's Legal Officer that direct and indirect contact with pregnant women and mothers of young children (up to three years of age) is prohibited by International Code Article 5.5.

 

Write to: Mr. Peter Brabeck-Letmathé, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé S.A. 55, Av. Nestlé. CH-1800 Vevey, Switzerland (Fax: +41 21 921 1885).

Key points for letters:

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