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In its new PR booklet shown above Nestlé quotes a Faculty of Paediatrics in Brazil in an attempt to bolster its image. Nestlé has been attempting to build a close relationship with paediatricians in Brazil for many years. For example, in 1993 it distributed free tickets for its "scientific" conference on a cruise liner. Photos from the promotional brochure are shown above. Nestlé has been sending the glossy PR booklet entitled Nestlé: Complying with the WHO Code, shown above, to people questioning its marketing activities. In the booklet Nestlé pictures the flags of 17 countries and implies that each country endorses Nestlé's marketing activities. However, closer inspection reveals that the statements alongside each flag come from one individual or organisation within the country. Our monitoring demonstrates that these statements do not bear close scrutiny as we will demonstrate from time-to-time on these sheets. This month's example comes from Brazil. Nestlé's booklet quotes the Faculty of Paediatrics and Child Care at the ABC Faculty of Medicine as follows: "We would like to express our thanks for Nestlé's always ethical conduct in our milieu, participating of activities promoted by universities and scientific societies, maintaining a flawless conduct, including profound respect for the Brazilian Norm for the Commercialisation of Food for Infants... several were the opportunities I had to ascertain how much Nestlé had contributed, always in a very ethical form, to the development of paediatrics in our country and for a healthier life for our children." Brazil is recognised as a country with most of the provisions of the International Code implemented in law, and this has had an effect on the marketing practices of baby food manufacturers and distributors. However, Nestlé violations of the International Code do still occur in Brazil. Our 1998 monitoring report, Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules, 1998, reveals that in Brazil Nestlé:
Ask Nestlé:
IBFAN's long memory catches out Kruger
In our monitoring report Breaking the Rules 1988-1989 we highlighted the labels of Kruger infant teas with the brand name Impress. The label shown below was found in Nigeria. It promotes the tea for use "from the first day of birth." This brings it within the scope of the International Code as it On 18th August 1998 the same label was found on products sold in Oman. As well as breaking its undertaking and the International Code, Kruger is now also violating World Health Assembly Resolution WHA47.5 adopted in 1994 which calls for complementary feeding to be fostered from about 6 months of age. The product also raises health concerns for any age group as it is 96% sugar! Write to Kruger and ask it to explain why it is marketing a drink which is 96% sugar for infant feeding. Ask it to comply with World Health Assembly Resolution WHA47.5 by labelling its teas for use from about 6 months.
Numico in Palestine
Numico, the giant conglomerate formed following Nutricia's takeover of Milupa and Cow&Gate, is known in the UK for offering midwives the chance of VIP trips if they sign up to receive infant feeding information from Cow&Gate. It is now attempting to make the Cow&Gate name known in Palestine through a series of "conferences". One took place in a restaurant in Naplouse. The invitation promised that speakers would be "followed by a dinner and presents to the participants." In 1996 the World Health Assembly adopted Resolution WHA49.15 calling for care that sponsorship of health professionals does not create conflicts of interest. Ask Numico if its products are referred to at these "conferences" and to describe the gifts it gives to participants. Ask it if it expects sales of its baby foods in the region to increase in the coming years.
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will be substituting for breastmilk if used so early in a child's life. The label violates
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