Students decide not to Nestle
Oxford Green Party invited controversy last week inviting representatives from Nestle to speak at their weekly meeting. Nestle have been the subject of a 10 year boycott by the National Green Party, 80 UK student and trade unions and amongst others Ocean Colour Scene, and Pulp. The discussion focussed on their sale of breast milk substitutes in developing countries which has been criticised for contributing to the deaths of 1.5 million babies every year. Milk substitutes discourage breast-feeding, with all its immune functions; in addition, poor sanitation, illiteracy and a failure to provide instructions in an adequate number of languages mean it is often mixed incorrectly or with unhygienic water, with fatal results. Nestle were quick to admit blame in the sale and marketing of products but stated that they now conform to international legislation and even exceed these standards in some countries. Both representatives stated milk substitutes were never advertised and no free samples were given to mothers or hospital staff, for which they have been strongly criticised. The speakers stumbled when the audience gave their experiences of developing countries where substitutes had found their way into rural communities with low literacy and poor sanitation. Despite Nestle's argument that they promote breast-feeding, the widespread availability of substitutes may still discourage mothers from breast-feeding and its undeniable nutritional and health benefits. Perhaps the strongest criticism was their refusal to stop selling the product or limit its use to prescription-only. Evidence suggests the product (which currently forms only 1% of their total sales) contributes to infant mortality. This suggests despite its new 'ethical' claims, Nestle is still driven primarily by profit, challenging whether big business will ever be compatible with social responsibility.
by Emma Farleigh
15th Feb 2001