Comments on: Nestle markets coffee creamer to illiterate mothers who mistake it for infant formula.

By: Jo Ford

Jo Ford — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:46:57 +0000

I recently lived in the Transkei, South Africa for three years and this is similar to what was going on there. Nestle is the main formula brand there and through their marketing in these remote areas of SA, they have made mothers believe that their formula is better than breastfeeding. What has happened is that the Mamas who believe that the Western world is better are now stopping breastfeeding and buying Nestle formula instead. The thing is though, they can’t really afford it so they are using more water and diluting it too much (water that is unsafe too). It may not be Nestle’s intention but the way they market the product with images of the western world using it makes mothers believe that this is better than the own milk they are producing. I found this very frustrating while I was there as I breastfed my son until he was two. However, until the marketing changes, this will continue.

By: Rachel O'Leary

Rachel O'Leary — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:42:16 +0000

Oliver, illiterate mothers are often poor. They use a product they think will feed their babies, even if it’s in a different part of the shop. The graphic is very important.
Nestlé say they abide by the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes drawn up by the World Health Organisation at the request of health professionals – but they don’t. Take a look at the IBFAN website for more details (International Baby Food Action Network.)

By: Oliver Doepner

Oliver Doepner — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:17:52 +0000

Hello,

I avoid Nestlé products wherever possible and I agree with the general sentiment expressed in the blog post.

But to be fair, I wanted to mention that the “Bear Brand” and the nursing bear logo are quite old and stem from the German “Bärenmarke” coffee creamer brand which Nestlé took over in 1970:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A4renmarke
http://www.baerenmarke.de/#/history/step2

In Germany, everybody knows the brand and the nursing bear logo (which is still used) and knows that it’s just (old-fashioned) coffee creamer.

So you could give Nestlé the benefit of the doubt that they were not thinking of the possible misunderstandings and just used the logo as is.

I would like to know if the product was placed on the shelf with formula products or in the coffee creamer isle. That would make quite a difference,

Thanks
Oliver

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:30:33 +0000

If this were something that happened forty years ago it would be time to move on. But…The can in my photograph is one that I bought within the past two years in a Lao market. I’m encouraged that Nestle has just recently started marketing the creamer in a can with a different label. But it took international pressure to get Nestle to change. Without that pressure, Nestle would still be selling cans with the nursing bear on the label. Sad to say, but Nestle has a huge moral blind spot.

By: Quigleypuff

Quigleypuff — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:30:56 +0000

Nestle are being harshly and dramatically criticised for doing something that ALL companies in the same industry are doing. This happened nearly 40 years ago. Time to move on!

By: Happytune

Happytune — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:17:22 +0000

@Daisy04528 To say that Nestle market their products to everyone is naive – I’d be very surprised if Nestle didn’t have a highly sophisticated marketing department, who segment their markets extremely carefully, and market in a way that is likely to maximise product purchase. I don’t think it would cause them any particular difficulty to change their packaging in countries with low literacy levels to ensure this sort of mistake doesn’t happen.

By: Daisy04528

Daisy04528 — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:40:41 +0000

Nestle markets their products to EVERYONE! To say they market to this group or that group is insane. This was also brought to public attention in 2009 so your are LATE jumping on this ban crazy wagon!

By: denise vicky

denise vicky — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 07:46:32 +0000

I am desgusted at how nestlie exsploite and violat vunrable mothers who are in poverty and illitarate deciveing them that there coffee formula is for babies. That they are actually causing deaths of babies and yet they are still making fortunes oFf other inocent people who unknowingly by there products therfore supporting them! Makes me sick. They target children being one of the biggest yougart sellers selling chocolate. Which is nowhwere near as good as cadburys.I hope they are heald accountable for decieving these poor people even although it won’t bring back the babies lives.

By: robyn

robyn — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:39:58 +0000

I can’t believe Nestle is doing this. They need to label their products correctly. They should have a label on there that would cover each Countries lanquage, were ever it
is sold. If it sold the consumer should know what they are buying. Buyer BEWARE.

By: Rachel O'Leary

Rachel O'Leary — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:04:34 +0000

If you want to help the campaign to make Nestlé accountable for their actions, please join your local IBFAN group (International Baby Food Action Network.) Or donate, or buy materials from them…. These abuses occur all over the world (including in the USA) and damage babies’ health.