It always seemed odd that while Nestlé, backed by Tom Levitt MP, was claiming its advertising of infant formula in South Africa had been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority, the ruling was not readily available. After three attempts, Baby Milk Action finally received a copy from Nestlé and it is clear why the company tried to keep it under wraps, despite the ruling being in its favour.
The ruling reveals that the complaint about the advertising in supermarkets did not come from some health activist, but from the Infant Feeding Association, the industry body made up of formula companies.
In other words, Nestlé's competitors believed Nestlé's strategy went too far and: "contravenes both the World Health Organisation (WHO) Code and the Code of Advertising Practice." With the industry failing to stop Nestlé advertising 'new' formula the danger is they may feel compelled to follow Nestlé in contravening the Codes to compete.
With both the Department of Health and the rest of the baby food industry condemning Nestlé's pushing of formula, why is Mr Levitt (who seems to have had access to the ruling long before we did) continuing to defend it?
See:
boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2008/07/nestle-driving-standards-down.htmlMike Brady
Campaigns and Networking Coordinator
Baby Milk Action
The full article contains 221 words and appears in Buxton Advertiser newspaper.
