An Investigative Study on The Claims of Nestle Causing Deaths of Thousands of Babies

Nestle and the Controversy Surrounding Infant Mortality

Nestle is a large food processing company that reported worldwide sales of over 8 billion dollars. However, it has been accused of contributing to infant mortality in the past. The company aggressively markets its products to poverty-stricken countries, and this has had a profound impact on these regions. By promoting their feeding formula in these countries, it has been shown that parents often misinterpret how to properly use this product. Throughout this paper, we will examine the claim that Nestle has contributed to the deaths of thousands of infants.

An Investigative Study on The Claims of Nestle Causing Deaths of Thousands of Babies

After conducting research, we found a plethora of articles that support the claims against Nestle. One significant piece is "Nestle Kills Babies: An Inside Look at the 1970s Baby Formula Scandal." This article first mentions how, in 1974, the British magazine War on Want published a 35-page exposé titled "The Baby Killer" (War on Want, 1974). The article exposes how Nestle's baby product marketing strategies targeted third-world women's desire for Westernization. They provided pamphlets listing only the benefits of the formula, hired salespeople to dress as nurses to deliver free samples to mothers, and struck deals with hospitals to promote the baby formula further. In return for pushing the formula, hospitals received "millions of dollars subsidizing office furnishings, research projects, gifts, conferences, publications, and travel junkets of the medical profession" (War on Want, 1974).

We also found articles with scientific proof to back up the claims against Nestle. One of these is "The Controversy over Infant Formula," published on December 6, 1981, by The New York Times. It explains how a team of physicians conducted research on some of the mothers affected by Nestle's aggressive marketing (The New York Times, 1981). These findings highlight the dire consequences that result from the improper use of baby formula, especially in impoverished regions where access to clean water and proper healthcare is limited.

The Role of Social Media in Advocacy

When this issue first surfaced, there were limited possibilities for activists to make the accusations public. The creation of "The Baby Killer" really blew the lid off the baby formula industry (War on Want, 1974). The title of this exposé captured the audience's attention immediately. Newspaper and magazine articles were the best options back then to publicize information, but today, social media has taken "word of mouth" to a whole new level.

Social networks help spread news faster than any other media. If Nestle were still engaging in these unethical actions today, we would choose to take the social network route to stop them. We would form a social interest group and, by creating a social media campaign, inform and educate the public. We would start by creating informational websites and then establish a Facebook and Twitter account. On our Twitter account, we could post not only facts but also links to our websites and Facebook page, providing further information. By creating a Twitter account, we could explore promotional tweets to reach an even wider audience beyond just our followers. Additionally, we could consider celebrity endorsements to tweet about our organization and retweet our posts.

Reaching Affected Communities and Fundraising

Since the third-world countries that are actually affected do not have as much, if any, access to social networks, we could send the celebrities we choose to endorse overseas to speak and inform those citizens. We would also organize fundraisers, possibly with the celebrities, to raise money for buying formula for the affected mothers. We would provide a way to donate through our website. Raising this money is crucial because not only do the mothers need new, uncontaminated formula, but they also require plenty of it. Many poor mothers use less formula powder than necessary to make a container last longer, leading to inadequate nutrition from weak solutions (War on Want, 1974). Additionally, if a mother runs out of formula, she would not have a backup method to feed her infant because her breast milk would dry up from disuse. The only way to compel Nestle to cease their unethical actions and uphold their social values is to put them on the spot, and a social media campaign is just the way to do so.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nestle's aggressive marketing tactics in developing countries have had severe consequences, contributing to infant mortality. Through historical and contemporary lenses, we can see the importance of advocacy and awareness. By utilizing social media and public campaigns, we can hold corporations accountable and prevent similar issues from arising in the future.

References

• The New York Times. (1981, December 6). The Controversy over Infant Formula.
• War on Want. (1974). The Baby Killer. London: Author.