This isn’t the first time I’ve blogged about Nestle and is likely not going to be the last. I wrote about the company when I first learned about the Nestle boycott. And again when the Nestle Family Twitter-storm took place in 2009. I wrote about Nestle when I compiled an updated list of all of the many, many brands Nestle owns (for people who choose to boycott them). And most recently, I wrote about Nestle when I discovered that they (well, two of their brands – Stouffer’s and Butterfinger) would be one of about 80 sponsors at this year’s BlogHer Conference in New York City.
My goal – throughout all of this – has never been to tell people what they should or should not do. That’s not my place. My goal has always simply been to raise awareness. There will be people who hear about the Nestle boycott and their unethical business practices and they won’t care one way or the other. Or perhaps they just won’t have time to look into it further. I know that and that’s fine. However, there will also be people who haven’t heard about what Nestle is doing and will want to learn more and find out what they can do and that’s where I like to think I can help. I’m a big fan of providing people with information and arming them with knowledge and letting them make their own choices.
So let’s get to it, shall we?
First thing’s first. Yes, I am going to BlogHer this year even though it is, in part, being sponsored by Nestle. I struggled with my decision for days and days, but in the end I decided to use this as another opportunity to raise awareness by blogging about Nestle, talk with people at BlogHer (who express an interest) about Nestle, and encourage BlogHer to adopt ethical sponsorship guidelines for future conferences. I also didn’t feel like letting Nestle control my life. I’m not saying that the people who choose to boycott BlogHer because of Nestle are doing that (one of my best friends is boycotting the conference though will still be in NYC and rooming with me – yay!) – I wholeheartedly support the women who are boycotting – but it didn’t feel like the right choice for me. I’ve also made a donation to Best for Babes and will make another one after BlogHer. Best for Babes is a non-profit who’s mission is to help moms beat the “Booby Traps“–the cultural & institutional barriers that prevent moms from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals, and to give breastfeeding a makeover so it is accepted and embraced by the general public. Best for Babes’ Credo is that ALL moms deserve to make an informed feeding decision, & to be cheered on, coached and celebrated without pressure, judgment or guilt, whether they breastfeed for 2 days, 2 months 2 years, or not at all. ALL breastfeeding moms deserve to succeed & have a positive breastfeeding experience without being “booby trapped!”
Now onto Nestle and just what it is that makes them so unethical. The following two sections are from a post by Annie of PhD in Parenting.
Overview of Nestlé’s Unethical Business Practices
Nestlé is accused by experts of unethical business practices such as:
- Promoting infant formula with misleading and harmful strategies that violate the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and put babies at risk (see Baby Milk Action’s Briefing on Nestle Updated July 2010 and the Boycott Nestle – and other action to protect infant health blog);
- Using suppliers that violate human rights (e.g purchasing milk from Mugabe, buying cocoa from suppliers that use child slaves) and destroy the environment (e.g. palm oil from rainforest);
- Controlling and abusing of water sources in its bottled water operations (e.g. in United States and in Brazil);
- Promoting unhealthy food, especially for young children;
- Trade union busting activities and denying the rights of workers to collectively bargain;
- …and more (see Nestle Critics Portal and Corporate Watch: Nestle SA: Corporate Crimes).
Nestlé defends its unethical business practices and uses doublespeak, denials and deception in an attempt to cover up or justify those practices. When laws don’t exist or fail to hold Nestlé to account, it takes public action to force Nestlé to change. Public action can take on many forms, including boycotting Nestlé brands, helping to spread the word about Nestlé’s unethical business practices, and putting pressure on the government to pass legislation that would prevent Nestlé from doing things that put people, animals and the environment at risk.
Want to boycott Nestle?
The Nestlé boycott has been going on for more than 30 years and Nestlé is still one of the three most boycotted companies in Britain. Although Nestlé officials would like to claim that the boycott has ended, it is still very much alive. But it needs to get bigger in order to have a greater impact. Nestlé owns a lot of brands and is the biggest food company in the world, so people wishing to boycott their brands need to do a bit of homework first to familiarize themselves with the brand names to avoid in the stores.
If you disagree with Nestle’s business practices, I hope you will join Annie, me and others in raising awareness by Tweeting with the hashtag #noNestle. Let people know that you do not support Nestlé’s unethical business practices. Tweet your message to Nestlé and to others using the hashtag #noNestle. Spread the word.
If you feel so inclined, you might also want to make a donation to an organization that supports breastfeeding, such as La Leche League or Best for Babes.
Tweet your support! Blog your message! Share on facebook!
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August 3rd, 2010 at 2:03 pm
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August 3rd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
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[...] Crunchy Domestic Goddess » Raising Awareness about Nestle’s Unethical Business Practices [...]
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:32 pm
A Mama's Blog says:
I’m glad you made the best decision for yourself and if anyone can raise awareness and work with BlogHer, you can! I hope everything we all are doing will change things for next year, so this isn’t an issue.
August 4th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Lori Groovy Green Livin says:
What a difficult decision to make-i think you made the right one. Going to BlogHer and talking openly about your dilemma. You are raising awareness-you enlightened me! Have a fab time.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:57 am
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August 5th, 2010 at 12:03 am
Anonymous says:
I can boycott all of those brands…except Haagen Daaz!
Thanks for making me aware of their unethical practices!
Laura
http://blissedoutbaby.blogspot.com/
August 6th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Laura says:
p.s. I love your blog and would love to write a guest post for you if you ever need a guest poster :)
my website is:
http://blissedoutbaby.blogspot.com/
Thanks!!!
August 6th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
The real L.A. love story. says:
ick i didn’t know this at all. i used to work down the street from the headquarters and have been there several times for lunch. they seem to do a lot for their employees, like healthy lunches, free gym… oh well.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Isle Dance says:
I just found your blog and I am so grateful for this!
I’m planning to attend BlogHer ’11, my first BlogHer conference, and part of the reason I’m waiting is because I really, really, really hope to see more healthy/green advertising, products and sponsorship by then.
I’ve sent BlogHer (what I think is) a great list of potential green sponsors and would love to do whatever I can to help make this happen.
Of course, I know there is much involved in this process and BlogHer likely would prefer to handle things a particular way, which I understand. I just ((really hope)) I can be of assistance, in whatever way possible, to help make this happen.
So please let me know if there’s anything you know of, that I can do to help with this.
Keep up the ((great)) blog!
August 9th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Crunchy Domestic Goddess » #NoNestle at BlogHer10 – Wordless Wednesday says:
[...] Commentshannah on Breastfeeding until age 3, 4, or 5: more common than you think?Isle Dance on Raising Awareness about Nestle’s Unethical Business PracticesThe real L.A. love story. on Raising Awareness about Nestle’s Unethical Business [...]
August 10th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Melissa says:
I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but on the side of your blog under the Google Ads you should notice that you are actually advertising for Nestle. This shows up:
“Nestlé Good Start
The Only Infant Formula Enhanced with Probiotic Natural Cultures.
Nestle-Baby.ca”
I just find it slightly humorous/ironic that amidst your boycotting you are actually perpetually advertising.
Best of luck with your “boycott”.
August 13th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Billie says:
I went through the list of Nestle foods and discovered that I actually don’t eat any of their food. I was boycotting them and didn’t even know it!
I do use their cat food to feed my cats and I don’t expect to switch any time soon. Fancy Feast is the best of what is out there in terms of wet food. I have tried other brands that meet my requirements for ingredients and the cats just won’t eat them. In terms of dry cat food – I will reconsider putting them back to 100% Iams.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:44 am
My Nestle Boycott « Think of pretty things says:
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October 25th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Joyfull says:
I know they also used to and maybe still do provide free formula as a “benefit” to their factory workers so they can return to work faster. Contandina Tomatoes used to be owned be Nestle and the workers at the factory got free formula as part of maternity benefits.
May 22nd, 2011 at 7:35 pm
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August 26th, 2011 at 2:24 am
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December 9th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
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really very good blog.
I went through the list of Nestle foods and discovered that I actually don’t eat any of their food. I was boycotting them and didn’t even know it!
December 30th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
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