Ask whether formula does the same job as breastmilk -- whether, for example, it protects mothers and their children against a variety of often life threatening and/or debilitating conditions.
Wednesday May 16, 2007, 10:48 am
I've just created a boycott pledge against Nestlé. Let's show them that consumers have power and consumers don't want corporate greed!!
Wednesday May 16, 2007, 11:17 am
As a Mother of 6 who has spent nearly 25 years nursing babies and toddlers, as an outspoken advocate and educator on the healthy NATURE of breastfeeding, we (my family) have never given up the boycott of Nestle. We have not had a Nestle product in our home in over 25 years.
The tactics of companies such as Nestle and others who push this fake nutrition in poor nations, especially where clean water supplies are scarce are, in my opinion condemning these babies to DEATH. This is nothing less than genocide for profit by these huge corporations. They should be held criminally accountable.
Also much of their poison peddling happens in countries were illiteracy rates are high and Western culture is looked up to, so these Mothers do not realize until it's too late, that they were lied to and their precious child paid the price.
Wednesday May 16, 2007, 12:50 pm
Nestlie's makes the very....what? We will change their minds!! Keep this article alive so it will make the front page. Note it, note it, note it!
Wednesday May 16, 2007, 5:43 pm
It is still going on and stronger than ever...in the Philippines, India, Africa, Asia, South America, oh and let's not forget the US and other so called industrialized countries. We are industrializing ourselves to death.
Formula feeding is spread through clever and heavy advertising. In many countries it is pushed as being more "modern" and seen as some warped sort of status symbol. The message is that 'only poor women', 'country women' still breastfeed.
That is how it got started in the US. Affluent women who could afford this new artificial 'milk' saw it as being chic and progressive. When actually it is quite the opposite.
Wednesday May 16, 2007, 7:33 pm
Thanks for this! This is really important! I breastfed my two children; the first one less successfully (only for a month) because of lack of information. With more experience and information, I was able to breastfeed my second child for 2 years. Many mothers do not have access to information, and the milk companies have dominated the scene with their advertising and marketing practices. Many women want to give their babies formula because it is seen as a status symbol.
Wednesday May 16, 2007, 7:51 pm
"The campaign led by the International Nestlé Boycott Committee primarily targets Nescafé, the corporation's flagship product. But we would encourage you to boycott all Nestlé products until the company stops promoting its babymilk."
Babymilk Action is an organization that publishes an updated list of Nestle' products to boycott in the UK. There is some overlap with the U.S. Nestle' is a HUGE International Conglomerate based in Switzerland; if you want to boycott, it won't be easy! You may be surprised at what some brands owned by Nestle' are -- that have nothing to do with food! A boycott of Nestle' brands has been organized and going on for years; and there are other websites. THANK YOU Julia, Helen, and Harry, for drawing this to Care2 viewers' attention. Let's make the Front Page with this story! Tell your friends.
More info on 2 Boycott groups on Care2. Yes, there are at least 2 boycott groups here.
Wednesday May 16, 2007, 11:05 pm
This is the mass control that aims to control human population through inhumane acts !
There is no accident in any of it and THAT is the saddest part of all.
Thursday May 17, 2007, 12:24 am
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Im 3 weeks away from giving birth to my first child and have just read oddles of information on breastfeeding and its benefits to mother, baby, the bonding process etc. Nature gave women breasts for a reason, we cannot always outdo nature. Unless there is a medical reason or no supply of milk why would you give your baby an inferior start to life. This is a wonderful article and one which shows the power of corporations.
Thursday May 17, 2007, 5:08 am
There's a list of Nestle brands right on their website (corporate websites are often one of the best sources of information when you're trying to start a boycott!): http://www.nestleusa.com/PubOurBrands/Brands.aspx
Thursday May 17, 2007, 6:37 am
The empire needs raw materials and cheap labor.
The military industrial complex has designed a civilization to keep you, off balance, and laboring indefinitly in the hope of someday becoming healthy, wealthy and wise.
The FDA is being TOLD what to approve by the corporate peddlers, who OWN the media, who SELECT the college proffessors, who SELECT the research projects, and who SELECTIVELY interpret the results to suit their own needs.
In America, they will keep you alive just enough to LABOR.
Overseas, they will remove the people in order to reach the raw materials.
The proliferation of guns is not the only way to remove the inhabitants.
Confectionery and biscuits: Nestlé, Crunch, Cailler, Galak/Milkybar, Kit Kat, Smarties, Butterfinger, Aero, Polo
Food Services and professional products: Chef, Davigel, Minor’s
Pet care: Purina, Friskies, Fancy Feast, Alpo, Gourmet, Mon Petit, Felix, Dog Chow, Cat Chow, Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Beneful, Tidy Cats
======================
As you can see, Nestle' is a HUGE CONGLOMERATE, and boycotting it takes some work!
Thursday May 17, 2007, 9:33 am
Interesting question: What did Nestle' have to do, directly or indirectly, with the wheat gluten or rice gluten or wheat flour or whatever it was from Chinese suppliers, that PUT THE POISON IN THE PET FOOD? Are they killing animals as well as babies?
Thursday May 17, 2007, 12:47 pm
BMutiny does bring up an interesting point.
Also note, for everyone, including myself that was NOT breastfed, the most likely truth is that our Mothers were ill-informed and lacked support. That is the case with most.
For those who think us 'formula babies' have "turning out alright", maybe we haven't. NOT being breastfed as infants has been linked to the following in later childhood and ADULTHOOD; INCREASED RISK of the following- Breast Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Type 1 & 2 Diabetes, Allergies, Asthma, Rheumetoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Obesity, High Colesterol, Corrective Orthodontia, Mutiple Sclerosis...
Noting that I have MS(multiple sclerosis) AND RA(rheumetoid arthritis), both of which had an unusually early onset, I find these correlations quite interesting.
Not to mention that NOT breastfeeding also put our Mothers at an increased risk of a number of illnesses.
Thursday May 17, 2007, 1:27 pm
Thank you for posting this story.
I consider bottlefeeding paramount to child abuse. This is not a popular viewpoint, and doesn't go over well with the mothers of my grandchildren, but, oh well, that's just too bad. I breastfed, but not nearly long enough, due to adamant violent opposition from family (I was very young, and not as bullheaded as I am now).
Thursday May 17, 2007, 2:02 pm
There is no question about it - Breastmilk the the absolute best food for a baby. And formula companies mislead the consumer into believing that the difference is minimal. However, calling bottlefeeding child abuse is incredibly insensitive to those unfortunate mothers who are just unable to breastfeed. Due to a medical condition I have, I take medication that passes into my breastmilk, and could possibly harm my son. I have fed my son formula from day 1, always wishing that I could breastfeed. My son is loved, well cared for, and is flourishing. Would you call me a child abuser?
Thursday May 17, 2007, 4:40 pm
Deepa, I hold the same view as Rene and Alf, BUT, I feel that way about women who CHOOSE not to breastfeed for ignorant or selfish reasons.
Obviously, if there is a true problem (though you can still nurse while on many medications), or if a Mother is told by her Dr. that it would be more harmful, as in your case, then NO, I would not lump you into that catagory. (BTW, Dr.s are taught VERY LITTLE about breastfeeding in med school, so they are not really a good source, in general, for BFing info.)
If ever you have questions about what is safe or not, or other issues, need help or support, try the following sites for more accurate info;
http://www.lalecheleague.org/
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/
http://www.promom.org/bf_info/index.htm
http://militantbreastfeedingcult.com/
(Someone is going to have to teach me to put the hyperlinks in these comments. PLEASE!)
Friday May 18, 2007, 5:33 am
It's the same old story large corporation no heart or soul. Breast milk is the solution because it basically fits all stages of a growing up it a way for the immune system to develop. It can not be reproduced in the lab.
Friday May 18, 2007, 8:26 am
My sister is about to give birth to my first nephew and she wasn't going to breast feed him because she thought it would be better to feed the baby formula. I just printed out the article to show it to her and hopefully change her mind!
Friday May 18, 2007, 3:21 pm
I can tell you what the damn problem is and I 've heard it so many times before..most women are afraid that iif they breast-feed their going to have sagging breast...yeah that's very true cause I've breast-feed all 4 of my children and my breast are no longer attractive but you know what I don't give damn cause I given life and nutured 4 beautiful healthly children on these brown jugs. This hype about formula making motherhood easier please....I'm sorry but women need to stop being lazy I'm a single mother of 4 I work but I still find the time to breastfeed.
Friday May 18, 2007, 6:02 pm
The lady who said she equates bottle feeding to child abuse urged me to write. My sister received UGLY looks whenever she took the bottle from her insulated diaper bag to feed her baby. Did anyone ask what was in the bottle before whispering or casting ugly disapproving glares? No. There was breastmilk in that bottle. She had trouble nursing and pumped her milk. Using a bottle is okay. I am fortunate enough to still be nursing my 16-month-old, but not everyone is in the same position. Also consider adoptive parents...some adoptive mothers are able to produce milk, but not all... I agree with boycotting Nestle, but I think we need to pull back before criticizing mothers to whom it is explained by their well-educated paediatricians that formula is a healthy option. Down with Nestle!
Friday May 18, 2007, 7:17 pm
The "Nursing Mothers Association" in Australia does a lot of excellent work
Support them
Suggest anyone who is having difficulties breast feeding talk to one of their volunteer counselors.
