In 1977, a global protest began against the Nestlé Corporation because of its marketing practices to women in less developed countries that favored formula over breast milk for infants. Breast milk is regarded as the gold standard of nutrition for infants, as it provides them with essential nutrients and antibodies that help them fight disease. Nestlé indicated that they had humanitarian interests at heart when promoting the use of formula over breast milk for mothers, saying that the breast milk of undernourished mothers may be lacking in essential nutrients. Those who found fault with Nestlé’s claims point out that formula could cost up to half of a family’s income in an underdeveloped country, and that it poses significant health risks to infants.

Sometimes new mothers were provided with formula in hospitals when they had their babies, which interfered with their ability to nurse their infants after going home. Families often could not afford the formula. The formula had to be mixed with water, which posed challenges for families that did not have easy access to clean drinking water. When contaminated water was used to mix into the dry formula, it could result in diarrhea, which could be life–threatening for infants. Lack of clean, sterile bottles was also a health problem. UNICEF found that a non–breastfed child living in disease–ridden and unhygienic conditions is between six and 25 times more likely to die of diarrhea and four times more likely to die of pneumonia than a breastfed child. In order to make the formula last longer, and avoid high costs for more, families may mix more water than recommended, resulting in babies not getting the nutrition they needed. In order to ensure that babies would be nursed, in 1981 the 34th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted Resolution WHA34.22, which included an International Code of Marketing for Breast–milk Substitutes. It bans the promotion of breast–milk substitutes and gives health workers the responsibility of advising parents. Many groups such as Baby Milk Action and other student groups continue to advocate for families in disadvantaged communities.

Sources

From “Nestlé baby milk marketing scam,” by author for Baby Milk Action. Baby Milk Action, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.babymilkaction.org/

Save the Children. (2007, May). A Generation On: Baby milk marketing still putting children’s lives at risk. Save the Children UK. No. 178159. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/docs/a_generation_on.pdf

Taylor, A. (1998, April 11). Violations of the international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes: prevalence in four countries. British Medical Journal 316: 1117.

UNICEF. (2002, May). Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Rome: UNICEF. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/

Questions to Consider:

1. Were you aware of how aggressively Nestlé, and other corporations, market products to people in less developed nations? As Becker asks, whose side are they on as they sell products like infant formula?
2. Breastfeeding is known to have significant health benefits for babies. Why do you think some people feel so uncomfortable about women nursing their infants, especially in public forums?