Group Calls for Resumption of Nestle Boycott : Says It Broke Promise Not to Promote Baby Formula in Third World

A national consumer action group Tuesday called for a renewed boycott against the Nestle company, charging that the Swiss-based firm has violated an agreement on promotion of infant formula in Third World countries.

Douglas A. Johnson, national chairman of Action for Corporate Accountability, said Nestle and American Home Products, another company to be targeted by the boycott, have encouraged the use of infant formula over breast-feeding in poor countries where millions of babies die each year from improper bottle feeding.

“Nestle does not put the well-being of the world’s children before the well-being of their own profits,” Johnson said at a news conference announcing the boycott. His organization is a Minneapolis-based coalition of churches and consumer groups across the country that monitors industry marketing practices.

A Nestle spokesman denied that the company had violated the international guidelines restricting the marketing of breast milk substitutes. The spokesman, Thad. M. Jackson, said a “stupid boycott” of Nestle and American Home Products goods would not change infant feeding practices in Third World hospitals.

Malnutrition a Factor

A seven-year boycott of Nestle ended in 1984 when the infant formula agreement was reached. That boycott, initiated by ACA’s founders, cost Nestle several billion dollars in lost sales and additional expenses, coalition Chairman Johnson said.

The agreement allowed companies to provide infant formula to hospitals in Third World countries to meet specific demand but prohibited the supply of extra quantities to promote sales and use of the products.

Consumer group leaders contend that some babies who drink formula become “hooked” on it and resist breast milk feeding after they leave the hospital. In underdeveloped countries, they said, low-income mothers who cannot afford to continue buying the formula often wind up diluting it or preparing it improperly, leading to malnutrition or increased susceptibility to disease.

Nestle spokesman Jackson denied the organization’s charge that the company has been distributing free samples to promote sales.

“For (ACA) to say that we’re dumping supplies in hospitals just simply isn’t true,” he said. “We’re supplying the materials that the hospitals ask for.” He said that although some of the formula is provided free, it is sent in response to specific hospital orders for the product for use with women who need a breast milk substitute or supplement.

American Home Products, a pharmaceuticals firm, also denied that it is violating the agreement. Its Wyeth-Aherst division “observes national regulations and guidelines for the marketing of infant formula products in all countries where such regulations or guidelines exist,” a company statement said.

Few Babies Need It

Two high profile products made by each of the targeted companies were highlighted by the consumer group for boycott. For Nestle, the products will be Taster’s Choice Instant Coffee and Coffeemate non-dairy creamer. For New York-based American Home Products, they will be Anacin and Advil headache remedies.

Carol Salmon, national associate director of the consumer group, said the boycott would apply to all products marketed by Nestle and its subsidiaries, including Los Angeles-based Carnation Co., which is planning to introduce two new infant formulas in the next few months.

But Dick Curd, spokesman for Carnation, said he doubted the boycott would have any effect on those products or Carnation. Jackson, the Nestle spokesman, said Carnation will not be involved in selling formula internationally.

ACA’s boycott is part of an international effort affiliated with the International Baby Food Action Network, a coalition of 150 organizations in more than 60 countries that promotes infant health.

Jackson said he agrees with the consumer group’s contention that very few children biologically need infant formula. But some mothers, he said, must work to support their children and are not home to breast feed. That is “a situation where you cannot sit in Washington and tell a mother in Timbuktu how to feed her child,” he said.