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.

October 1997

• Nestlé's latest marketing strategy - mineral water
• Nutricia (Cow & Gate) promotes bottle feeding in the UK
• HIPP teas take the biscuit

Nestlé's latest marketing strategy - mineral water

Company	Item	Date	Violation Reference
Nestlé	Advertisements for Valvert mineral water in Russia promote bottle-feeding	June 1997	comp/97/13

Since 1992 Nestlé has been buying up bottled water companies. It now controls over 10% of the world market (producing 6.5 billion litres in an estimated world market of 57 billion litres). The Nestlé bottled water subsidiary, Perrier Vittel SA, is present in more than 120 countries.

Nestlé labels some of its bottled water as suitable for infants and, as the advertisement shown below demonstrates, is using it to promote bottle-feeding. The advertisement for Nestlé's Valvert water appeared in a parenting magazine in Russia in June 1997. The baby's bottle appears to contain infant formula and the text says, "...be careful with the quality of his feed...we recommend mineral water which is ecologically pure. It is good for the babies organs. It is natural..."

The International Code covers "beverages...when marketed or otherwise represented to be suitable, with or without modification, for use as a partial or total replacement of breastmilk," which includes water.

Article 5.1 states that, "There should be no advertising or other form of promotion to the general public of products within the scope of this Code."

Article 9.1 states that, "Labels should be designed ... so as not to discourage breastfeeding."

Write to Nestlé requesting that it:

• does not promote bottled water when labelled as suitable for infants in accordance with Article 5.1.
• labels bottled water that is represented as suitable for infants in accordance with Article 9.1.
• undertakes not to market bottled water in ways that undermine exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding.

Violation	Complain to
Promotion of a product covered by the International Code to the general public	Mr. Peter Brabeck, CEO Nestlé, 55, av. Nestlé, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland.

Nutricia (Cow & Gate) promotes bottle feeding

Company	Item	Date	Violation Reference
Nestlé	Promotes directly to mothers	October 1997	comp/97/14

The advertisement shown here is an example of how Nutricia subsidiary, Cow & Gate, promotes bottle feeding in the UK. The advertisement appeared in the magazine of the national retail chain, Sainsbury's.

A picture paints a thousand words and this is clearly promoting bottle feeding. The advertisement is for Step-up follow-on formula which is covered by the International Code.

Write to Nutricia (Cow & Gate) and request that it respects Article 5.1 of the International Code which bans all advertising and promotion to the general public of such products.

Violation	Complain to
Promoting directly to mothers	Mr. Klaas de Jong, General Manager, Nutricia Rokkeveenseweg 49 2712 PJ Zoetermeer The Netherlands

HIPP teas take the biscuit

Company	Item	Date	Violation Reference
HIPP	Promotional leaflets	August 1997	comp/97/15

German baby food company HIPP has been in the spotlight in the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union) for labelling its products in German only while Article 9.2 of the International Code requires labelling in the "appropriate language." This is beginning to change, as Russian is now included on some products. However, HIPP teas continue to be labelled as suitable for use from much earlier than about 6 months, the age at which the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA47.5 states complementary feeding should be fostered. In September 1997 HIPP's Kindertee was found in Yaravan, Armenia labelled for use from one week (Batch no: L-83991).

Write to HIPP and request that it:

• Labels all of its products in the appropriate language (Article 9.2)
• Labels its teas and other complementary foods as for use from about 6 months in accordance with Resolution WHA47.5

Violation	Complain to
Labelling language Labels recommend use from one week of age	Mr. Klaus Hipp, General Manager, Hipp K.G., Postfach 1551, 85265 Pfaffenhofen, Germany

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