Your questions answered

Got a question? You may find the answer in this section.

Also see the briefing papers and other publications in the resources section or look at the behaviour of companies in the codewatch section.

If you can't find the answer to your question or our answers raise others then contact us.

Most recent posting: 24 June 2008

Themes

The Nestlé boycott and Nestlé's Public Relations materials

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, WHA Resolutions and health policy

Index to questions answered

The Nestlé boycott and Nestlé's Public Relations materials

Also see the briefing paper Nestlé Public Relations Machine Exposed and Boycott News (archived in the resources section).

• Q. What is the substantiation for the claims on your Give Nescafé the boot flier?

• Q. Is it true that the Church of England ended its support the boycott of Nestlé years ago because it found it had changed its ways?

• Q. Is it true that GES and Bureau Veritas reports on Nestlé mean there are no longer any concerns?

• Q. What is the story behind the British Journal of Midwifery article being distributed by Nestlé?

• Q. Is it true the Methodist Church has invested in Nestlé as it no longer has concerns about the company's marketing of baby milk?

• Q. Why has a company as unethical as Nestlé been given a Fairtrade mark for its Partners Blend coffee?

• Q. Is it true that Baby Milk Action no longer has any concerns about Nestlé baby food marketing policies in developing countries, only in industrialised countries?

• Q. Nestlé says it has changed its ways. It is it telling the truth?

• Q. Can my local Council support the Nestlé boycott?

• Q. Nestlé's Sustainability Review shows the company's internal auditors standing in front of a shop display for baby food which includes whole milks. Why do the auditors permit this?

• Q. Is it true that Nestlé violations are due to staff members "misbehaving" and that the violations are quickly stopped by Nestlé management?

• Q. Nestlé sets out what staff can and cannot do in its 'Infant Formula Marketing Policy'. Is there anything wrong with this?

• Q. Is Nestlé involved in Burma/Myanmar, where democracy campaigners have called for companies to withdraw in protest at the military dictatorship?

• Q. What is the story behind Nestlé's 'Action Report' on a new WHO infant feeding recommendation?

• Q. Nestlé's Senior Policy Advisor is from Sri Lanka and claims that there are no concerns about Nestlé's activities there. Is this true?

• Q. In today's Daily Express newspaper, Nestlé says: "Many of the allegations are years out of date and have been rectified." Is this true?

• Q. Where does this figure of 1.5 million infant deaths per year come from and why is it being dismissed by Nestle?

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, WHA Resolutions and health policy

• Q. On what basis has Novartis/Gerber been included in the FTSE4Good ethical listing if it is still violating the baby food marketing requirements?

• Q. What about mothers who cannot or don't want to breastfeed? Don't you care about them and their infants?

• Q. Is it wrong of companies to cut the price of their breastmilk substitutes?

• Q. Doesn't HIV change the situation?

• Q. What is the legal status of the International Code and Resolutions?

• Q. Where does this figure of 1.5 million infant deaths per year come from and why is it being dismissed by Nestle?