Baby Milk Action - The Nestlé Boycott

Nestlé is targeted with the boycott because monitoring conducted by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) finds it to be responsible for more violations of the World Health Assembly marketing requirements for baby foods than any other company (see the codewatch section for profiles of the different companies to target their malpractice).

As UNICEF has said:

"Marketing practices that undermine breastfeeding are potentially hazardous wherever they are pursued: in the developing world, WHO estimates that some 1.5 million children die each year because they are not adequately breastfed. These facts are not in dispute."

Although Nestlé does dispute the facts. See the Your Questions Answered section for responses to Nestlé's denials and deception. The boycott will continue until Nestlé accepts and complies with Baby Milk Action's four-point plan for saving infant lives and ultimately ending the boycott.

Finding your way around the campaign

The quick links above are there for boycott campaigners to find what they need. If you are new to the campaign here are some pointers.

You can enter your email address here to receive a free briefing on the boycott, other information on our work and merchandise promotions (your email address will only be used by Baby Milk Action to send you information and you can unsubscribe at any time).

There is also a wealth of information and resources on this website.

The Nestlé-Free Zone page is a good starting point if you are totally new to the boycott or want to promote it to others. You can add banners and logos to your site or blog to direct people to this page.

See the history of the campaign to information on how efforts to introduce independently monitored and enforced legislation are paying off and how the boycott was once called off because Nestlé promised to change its policies and practices, but broke its word so the boycott was re-launched.

According to an independent survey Nestlé is one of the most boycotted brands on the planet and the most boycotted brand in the UK. See The Guardian (1 September 2005)

Baby Milk Action is the UK member of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), consisting of over 200 groups in more than 100 countries. We know what the baby food companies through monitoring their activities on the ground. This monitoring has found Nestlé to be the most aggressive of the baby food companies. See the Codewatch section for documentary evidence. The IBFAN site has a useful overview of the baby food issue.

Baby Milk Action has defeated Nestlé in a series of public debates. If Nestlé attempts to speak at your college or organisation, feel free to invite Baby Milk Action to come to debate with Nestlé. In the past Nestlé refused to even speak if we were present in the room, but thanks to pressure from the boycott has backed down from this position.

For updates on the boycott see the Boycott News supplement to our Update newsletter. Also see the Latest News section, the student section and boycott art page. For posters to publicise a boycott see the Nestlé-free Zone page.

The boycott has been launched by national groups in: Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Cameroon, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA).

The boycott will continue until Nestlé abides by the International Code and subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions in policy and practice. For an in-depth briefing paper with links to other resources see Nestlé's Public Relations Machine Exposed. For leaflets, posters and a list of boycott endorsers visit the downloads page. Boycott materials are also available in our on-line Virtual Shop. Further campaigning ideas and links are given below. To be added to the International Nestlé Boycott email discussion group send an email to subscribe by clicking here (or send an email to intnestleboycott-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk).

You can read what goes on behind the scenes by reading the blog by Baby Milk Action's Campaigns and Networking Coordinator. If you register with myspace (which is free), you can join the boycott discussion forum.

How you can help with the Campaign Against Nestlé...

Although many of these ideas can be used anywhere in the world, some are only useful for British viewers. Baby Milk Action is the UK member of IBFAN.

Stop buying Nescafé coffee and write to tell Nestlé that you support the Boycott. We have a sample letter you can use.
Collect petition signatures. We can send you an official petition form (or download our petition.pdf and print your own). Completed forms are presented to Nestlé at its AGM or at the annual demonstration at Nestlé (UK) HQ.
Ask any community groups, unions, churches and other organisations to join the campaign and to distribute information. There is a sample resolution available.
Hold a day of action in your town. Baby Milk Action will help with ideas and materials.
Give a donation to help us to fund the campaign. Baby Milk Action is a small, non-profit organisation; Nestlé is the world's largest food company. Donations, no matter how small, are vital for the running of the boycott.
Distribute boycott leaflets (contact us or download a file for printing your own) outside supermarkets & shops or using a free-standing leaflet dispenser (also from Baby Milk Action).
Write to your MP, MEP and local councils asking them to take up the issue. Many already support the boycott.
Members receive our regular newsletter, with news and action ideas on all our campaigns. Just fill out the membership form for further information or visit the Baby Milk Action Virtual Shop to join today on-line.
Write to tell your local supermarket that you boycott Nestlé. It's unlikely to have an immediate effect, but you'll ensure that they keep an eye on the Nescafé shelf.
Lobby sympathetic local businesses, particularly wholefood shops, to boycott Nescafé and other Nestlé products. Or ask them to give Nestlé a less prominent position and/or to carry boycott information.
If you live in the UK, join your local group. Check the list of area contacts. If there is no contact for your area, why not consider becoming one yourself? Our Area Contact Handbook will help.
Run a stall at charity fairs and other local events. We can supply you with materials. Or find out from your council about having an information stand in the town centre.
Tell friends and relatives about the boycott.
Above all, remember the easiest thing - Cut Out Nescafé!
If you want to boycott other Nestlé products or if Nescafé isn't the biggest Nestlé product in your country, check out the full product list.

Boycott pledge

Complete this form to let Baby Milk Action know that you boycott Nescafé and/or to request information on becoming a member. Boycott pledges are handed into Nestlé along with petitions.

Name:
Address:
Town:
Postcode:
County/State:
Country:
e-mail address:
confirm e-mail

	I pledge to boycott Nescafé until Nestlé abides by the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions in policy and practice.
	I boycott all Nestlé products
	Please send me an email alert when new information is posted on this website.
	Please send me details of joining Baby Milk Action. (Without membership fees we wouldn't be able to keep going. You can join today using Visa, Mastercard or Switch payment methods at the Baby Milk Action Virtual Shop).

After submitting the form to us, return to this page and click here to send a message to Nestlé.

You can also telephone Nestlé freephone number - check for it on their products. Click here to see what happens when you do.