Demos against Nestlé and calls for leaders to act against baby milk pushers

It was a busy week last week with the World Health Assembly. We have had:

• New charts downgrading European countries for failing to act to stop aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes;

• The presentation of a petition calling for leaders around the world to act to protect their people;

• In the lead up to the Assembly, Baby Milk Action's Policy Director standing up at the Nestlé shareholder meeting, calling for Nestlé to change its ways, and a demonstration on the doorstep of Nestlé (UK).

Our partners from the International Code Documentation Centre launched a new State of the Code Chart by Country at the Assembly. This shows the action taken by governments to implement the World Health Assembly marketing requirements for breastmilk substitutes. Many have taken effective action, action which is helping to protect infant health. However, others have not done so. Indeed, most of the countries of the European Union have failed in their responsibilities to such an extent that they have been downgraded on the chart following the introduced of a new Directive in 2006. Only two countries, Luxembourg and Norway, put the well-being of their people first by going beyond the Directive. Read a press release from ICDC at:

http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press21may09.html

The Chart can be ordered through the Baby Milk Action online Virtual Shop at:

http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/publications01.html#socs

The ONE MILLION CAMPAIGN presented a petition with over 40,000 signatures calling for leaders to do more to protect, promote and support breastfeeding - thank you to everyone who has signed. If you have not done so, please do so. If you have, then please keep encouraging others to add their names as the petition will be used nationally and internationally in the future. See the ONE MILLION CAMPAIGN press release at:

http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press23may09.html

Nestlé is found to be the worst of the baby food companies. Patti Rundall OBE, Policy Director of Baby Milk Action, raised concerns at the shareholder meeting in April. These were dismissed by executives, but then the problems come from the very top: in the adjoining hall examples of Nestlé formula tins were on proud display with labels claiming it would 'protect' babies. In reality, formula-fed babies are more likely to become sick in the short and long term and, in conditions of poverty, more likely to die.

Images from this and the annual demonstration at Nestlé (UK) HQ on 16 May can be found at:

http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press22may09.html

Many thanks to everyone who came to the demo, organised things locally or participated in the virtual demonstration on facebook: over 700 people signed up, prompting a reaction from the police Intelligence Unit. Find out more on the newswire report at:

http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=5787939