Breast-milk advocates in attack on Nestlé over labelling

Published on Monday 21 June 2010 21:32

A NATIONAL campaign group is targeting the powdered milk manufacturer Nestlé as part of Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

Baby Milk Action wants the company to remove "Protect" logos from its formula milk labels because it believes they undermine the message that breast milk is best for babies.

Campaigners called for supporters to e-mail Nestl to say they disagree with the claim.

Mike Brady, campaigns and networking co-ordinator at Baby Milk Action, said: "Breastfeeding Week promotes the message that breast milk protects babies.

"It is a living substance containing antibodies and other protective factors.

"Nestl competes with breastfeeding by claiming its baby milk 'protects' babies."

An earlier boycott campaign helped force companies to put 'Breast is Best' messages on labels, said Mr Brady. "But Nestl is trying to trump these with its more prominent colourful 'Protect' logos and false claims of health benefits from using baby milk."

A Nestl spokesperson said its infant formula products were very heavily regulated to ensure that consumers had technically precise and accurate information.

"The 'Protect' logo is simply used to inform people of the scientifically proven benefits of the product in meeting the nutritional needs of babies.

"In no way does it, or any other logo, claim that infant formula is in any way superior to breast milk. All our infant formula products clearly state that 'breast milk is best'."

Baby Milk Action works with more than 200 groups worldwide to campaign against inappropriate infant feeding.