Monday, November 08, 2004

Edinburgh Student Newspaper : News : Deceit and malpractice at Nestlé debate
Deceit and malpractice at Nestlé debate
"With the ‘Freedom of Choice’ motion due to be voted on at the AGM this Wednesday, representatives from Nestlé and Baby Milk Action came together last week to debate, argue and accuse. Nestlé is one of the world’s largest multinational food companies, with an annual turnover of £39 billion, and the largest share of the baby food market. Baby Milk Action is the United Kingdom member of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), a pressure group formed to fight against “baby food marketing malpractice.”

Debate
The debate took place on Wednesday in the David Hume Tower with Hilary Parsons, Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé UK, and Mike Brady, Baby Milk Action’s Campaigns and Network Coordinator, representing the two camps. There is currently a boycott in all EUSA venues on Nestlé products, yet this could be repealed on Wednesday if there is enough favourable student support. The central issue concerns Nestlé’s ‘aggressive marketing’ of its breast milk substitutes in the developing world...."