Nestlé Boycott

By karenannegarcia

  • The Baby Killer is published

    The Baby Killer is published
    • The Baby Killer, a report on infant malnutrition and the promotion of artificial feeding in third world countries, is published by War on Want
    • Bern Third World Action Group (AgDW) translates The Baby Killer title into Nestlé tötet Babies (Nestlé Kills Babies) and publishes it in Switzerland. AgDW is sued by Nestlé for libel.

  • Nestlé's first hearing, ICIFI is formed

    • The Nestlé libel lawsuit has its first hearing.
    • The International Council of Infant Food Industries (ICIFI) is formed and joined by Cow & Gate, Dumex, Meiji, Morinaga, Nestlé, Snow Brand, Wakado and Wyeth.

  • AgDW is found guilty, but Nestlé isn't spared

    • AgDW is found guilty of libel but only for the title, and is asked to pay a token fine.
    • Nestlé is warned to change its marketing practices.

  • Nestlé Boycott is born

    Nestlé Boycott is born
    • The Infant Formula Action Coalition (INFACT) launches the Nestlé boycott in the US as a protest against the company's unethical marketing

  • The boycott goes global

    • Nestlé boycott spreads to Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
    • Nestlé tries to improve public image by issuing its first of many policy statements in relation to the scandal
    • US Senate Hearings, held by Senator Edward Kennedy, have started regarding the inappropriate marketing of baby milks in developing countries.

  • WHO/UNICEF hosts a meeting, IBFAN is formed

    • WHO/UNICEF hosts an international meeting on infant and young child feeding, which is attended by representatives of governments, health organisations, companies and campaigning groups, calls for the development of an international code of marketing.
    • The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) is formed by six of the campaigning groups at the meeting.

  • UK joins in

    • In testimony at a US Senate Hearing, Nestlé and three US companies admit that they do not intend to abide by WHO's interpretation of the recommendations of the 1979 WHO/UNICEF meeting.
    • The 33rd World Health Assembly adopts recommendations of the 1979 WHO/UNICEF meeting and charges these bodies with drafting a code and conducting widespread consultation.
    • Nestlé boycott is launched in the UK.

  • The boycott continues

    • Nestlé boycott launched in Sweden and West Germany.
    • Writing as President of ICIFI, Nestlé Vice President, Ernest Saunders describes the draft marketing code as unacceptable, restrictive, irrelevant and unworkable.
    • The 34th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopts Resolution WHA34.22 which includes the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes as a "minimum requirement" to be adopted "in its entirety." 118 nations vote in favour with only the US voting against.

  • NIFAC is built

    • Nestlé Infant Formula Audit Commission (NIFAC), headed by former US Secretary of State, Edmund Muskie, is set up to monitor Nestlé's marketing practices using Nestlé's guidelines rather than the Code.
    • The Nestlé boycott is launched in France.

  • Nestlé vs 10 countries and counting

    • Nestlé boycott spreads to Finland and Norway bringing the total to 10 countries.
    • Boycott in North America intensifies.

  • The boycott is suspended

    • January: Nestlé agrees to implement the International Code in developing countries.
    • October: Nestlé boycott is suspended. Monitoring has shown that Nestlé has stopped some of its more blatant malpractice and top management undertakes to resolve other concerns including applying the International Code in Europe and abiding by WHO policy on free and low-cost supplies.
    • The Association of Infant Food Manufacturers (IFM) replaces IFICI

  • IBFAN publishes Protecting Infant Health

    • IBFAN publishes first edition of Protecting Infant Health (a health worker's guide to the International Code); begins publishing Breastfeeding Briefs (a summary of scientific literature on breastfeeding), sets up the Code Documentation Centre in Penang, Malaysia (ICDC) and launches workshops on the International Code in Africa.
  • Period: to

    IBFAN monitors

    • IBFAN monitoring reveals companies flooding health facilities with free and low-cost supplies and violating other provisions of the International Code.

  • Nestlé Boycott resumes

    • June: The US IBFAN group gives Nestlé and Wyeth/AHP (American Home Products) until October to end free and low-cost supplies of baby milks or it will call for consumer action. UK Government announces a ban on free and low-cost supplies.
    • October: The US IBFAN group launches boycott of Nestlé and AHP in the US; the German group launches boycott of Nestlé and publicity campaign against Milupa in Germany. Canada joins the boycott of Nestlé.

  • Convention on the Rights of a Child

    • Nestlé boycott launched in Ireland, Finland, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, and UK.
    • IBFAN holds International Forum in Manila to celebrate 10 years of IBFAN. Boycott launched against Nestlé, Wyeth, Bristol Myers and Abbott-Ross in the Philippines.
    • The Convention on the Rights of the Child is adopted by the United Nations.

  • Innocenti Declaration

    • Following the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child, the Innocenti Declaration, signed by 32 countries, calls on all Governments to adopt the International Code as a minimum requirement in its entirety and to adopt imaginative maternity legislation by 1995. Heads of state at the World Summit for Children endorse the Innocenti Declaration.
    • Nestlé boycott launched in France.

  • NIFAC closes

    • Nestlé boycott launched in Australia and Switzerland.
    • Although IBFAN has been able to encourage some improvements, the finalised EC Directive covering the marketing of infant formula and follow-up milks in the Internal Market is weak.
    • NIFAC commissions research in Mexico which finds widespread distribution of free supplies with a consequent detrimental effect on breastfeeding rates. Nestlé closes NIFAC down with the majority of complaints registered by IBFAN unanswered.

  • Resolution WHA45.35 and EU Export Directive is passed

    • The 45th World Health Assembly calls on Member States to enact legislation to protect the breastfeeding rights of working women.
    • European Union Export Directive adopted calling on EU-based companies to remove baby pictures and use appropriate language on tins.

  • Nestlé fights back

    • Nestlé sues other baby food companies in the US for agreeing to a ban on advertising infant formula.
    • Nestlé boycott spreads to Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey bringing the total number of countries to 18.

  • Nestlé gets sued

    • Lawsuit filed against Nestlé in India by an Indian IBFAN group.
    • The 47th World Health Assembly adopts a resolution calling for an end to free and subsidized supplies in all parts of the health care system; for care in accepting donations for emergency relief and for complementary feeding to be introduced from about the 6th month. For the first time the US supports a resolution which reaffirms support for the International Code and subsequent, relevant resolutions.

  • Nestlé loses court case

    • Nestlé loses court case against companies in the US which had adopted an advertising ban, but the voluntary agreement has collapsed.
    • IBFAN hosts national and international meetings to discuss infant feeding and emergency relief.

  • Nestlé issues a Writ Petition

    • Nestlé issues a Writ Petition against the Indian Government challenging the provisions of the IMS Act under which it is being prosecuted.
    • The UK IBFAN group successfully defends claims made in an advertisement promoting the Nestlé boycott before the advertising regulatory authority.

  • Nestlé fails to deliver

    • UK Adverstising Standards Authority upholds all of Baby Milk Action's complaints against a Nestlé anti-boycott ad in which the company claimed to market infant formula 'ethically and responsibly'. Nestlé distributes a 183-page book of letters presented as 'official responses of 54 governments' that abides by the International Code, which is exposed as dishonest and Nestlé has to apologise for misrepresenting letters.

  • Nestlé continues to spiral down

    • Nestlé commissions an external audit into the activities of Nestlé Pakistan. The auditors are told they cannot contact Syed Aamar Raza or Non-Governmental Organisation which have been monitoring Nestlé activities. Baby Milk Action writes to Nestlé and offers to provide documentary evidence of malpractice to the auditors. The offer is not passed on to the auditors.
    • Nestlé is fined in Costa Rica for failing to change labels despite repeated warnings.

  • Nestlé vs 20 countries

    • Cameroon becomes the 20th country to join the Nestlé boycott
    • After refusing to even speak in public if Baby Milk Action is present, Nestlé (UK) agrees to a debate at Cambridge University. Students across the country have been targeting Nestlé graduate recruitment events, refusing to give the company a platform. Nestlé rejects a 4-point plan aimed at saving infant lives & ultimately ending the boycott as it refuses to accept the Code & Resolutions are minimum requirements

  • More WHA resolutions are made

    • The 55th World Health Assembly adopts Resolutions 55.25, incorporating the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, calling for renewed action to implement the Code and Resolutions.
    • Save the Children (UK) and the Ministry of Health Vietnam document widespread violations in Vietnam. Companies named include: Abbott, Dumex, Australia Milk, France Bebe Nutrition, Friesland, Heinz (Camera feeding bottles), Mead Johnson, Meiji, Nestlé, Nuk and Snow.

  • Protests still exist

    • During national demonstrations in the UK, Nestlé announces it has changed the age of use on its complementary foods. Despite failing to do this for 9 years, Nestlé claims it is 'taking the initiative'. Although monitors find the policy is not being implemented everywhere, IBFAN welcomes the move and calls on other companies to follow.

  • Breaking the Rules

    • Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2004, monitoring results from 69 countries, published. Nestlé is named as the worst of the baby food companies once again with NUMICO (Nutricia, Milupa, Cow&Gate) as the second biggest source of violations. State of the Code charts show that 60 countries now have all or many of the provisions of the Code and Resolutions in legislation.

  • Nestlé receives the Fairtrade mark

    • Nestlé receives the Fairtrade mark for its Partners' Blend of coffee and uses it in an advertising campaign to counter criticism of its treatment of coffee farmers. The new brand involves just 0.1% of coffee farmers depedent on Nestlé. A survey of Baby Milk Action supporters finds the Fairtrade mark will be undermined by its award to Nestlé for so small a commitment.

  • Invest or boycott?

    The Methodist Conference in the UK adopts texts suggesting that buying shares in Nestlé could "influence change through engagement", stating "Many would consider that these two strategies [the boycott and engagement] have complementary objectives." Baby Milk Action warns that investing in Nestlé will be misrepresented as ending support for the boycott

  • Nestlé acknowledges widespread boycott

    • 2 - 8 July: The first International Nestlé-Free Week is launched as a week for boycotters to do more to spread the word, and for non-boycotters to give it a go, at least for a week.
    • Nestlé's Global Public Affairs Manager admits that Nestlé is "widely boycotted". A survey has found it to be one of the four most boycotted companies on the planet and the most boycotted in the UK.

  • Nestlé vs Baby Milk Action, etc.

    • Nestlé is reported to the UN Global Compact office by Baby Milk Action and a coalition of other organisations for egregious violations of the Global Compact Principles and for bringing the initiative into disrepute.