Nestlé: the world's biggest food company and one of the 'most boycotted'

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

Here.

Has it made any difference though, really?

[AMumInScotland]

I don't think it's made the slightest difference really. They were being boycotted by mums back before I even had my DS - coming up on 16 now - and they're still a huge and successful company.

I don't think the boycotting has made even a tiny dent in their profits.

[DoNotPressTheRedButton]

'Elsewhere, Hot Pockets is the number one "frozen stuffed sandwich brand'

Isn't it a damning indictment of AMerica that there should be such a brand to succeed in?

I think boycotting Nestle is relevant regardless of actual results- it's important that there are people out there passing the sense that you should try to do something based on morals to their famillies.

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

I agree DoNot, my parents boycotted Nestle and I've been a staunch boycotter (even boycott L'Oreal and Bodyshop etc) since I was old enough to buy my own stuff.

I just also sort of agree with AMum. They're still raking in multimillion dollar profits every farking month. Babies are still dying from being fed unsafe formula. None of it makes a jot of difference in real terms.

Am feeling despondent today...

[DoNotPressTheRedButton]

I know TAFKA, it's incredible what some people can blind ther eyes to- often seeing it as a form of atatck on them- whereas I don't give a flying F if they ueed formula becuase they ahd access to info and choice, its the absence of that in developing countries that makes me sick.

But all I can do is excplain to my boys nd hope their generation make a cure for apathy. Perhaps we already have done it for them effects of global warming on Africa and all that.

[AMumInScotland]

I think the boycott does have some effect - in that it at least means the issue is in the public eye to some extent. Obviously a lot of people shrug and think "so what?", but at least they're aware that there is an issue. But I don't think it directly affects the company.

What we need is for people to take enough action to make Nestle comply with the regulations, which there seems to be plenty of evidence that they don't. Surely there must be organisations who ought to be checking up on that and doing something about it?

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

AMIS - i think a large part of the problem is that the organisations who have the power to regulate companies like Nestle (and I'm lumping Coca Cola, Nike and McDonalds in there too) have a fraction of the power of the large multibillion corporations. Also, if you look at places like the Phillipines - where the baby formula thing is a real issue - then the Governments are often taking backhanders from the companies anyway. Corrupt governments and medical staff are part of the problem - it's not just Nestle.

[wannaBe]

I think it makes no difference what so ever. And even if it makes a difference to their prophits, their prophits are already so vast that any effect is irelevant iyswim.

And at the end of the day, if you boycott nestle you are still likely to be buying from other companies that have immoral practices. Coca cola because of their human rights issues/environmental impact/the way they market in the 3rd world (not dissimilar to nestle actually). McDonalds beause of their human rights issues/deforestation practices. Primark/m&s/any other clothing store on the high street because of their employment of cheap/child labour. And the list goes on. At the end of the day it simply isn't possible, or in csome cases financially viable, to boycott them all.

[WinkyWinkola]

I still think it's important, wherever possible, to vote with your consumer feet. It matters.

Nestle does make billions of profit but there is still pressure on them to comply with marketing standards.

It would be even more depressing just to do absolutely nothing. One little voice, one hundred little voices shouting out - it does make a difference, even if it's only for one's own personal moral convictions.

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

wannaBe - so that means we shouldn't try and make a difference at all? That we should just accept that life's shit for a large proportion of the world's population because of multinationals like Nestle, Coke, Nike etc?

[MmeLindt]

I was pondering this the other day on the Domino's Pizza thread.

IMO, boycotting does absolutely no good whatsover.

I am a fairly well read person and had never even heard of the Nestlé boycott until I read about it on MN.

Has there ever been a boycott that worked?

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

MmeLindt - Gap?

[MmeLindt]

Was there a GAP boycott?

I must be missing the Boycott News letter, I have no idea .

Or are they boycotts in UK only, I have been living in Germany/Switzerland for the past 17 years.

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

I don't know, I seem to recall something about Gap having very unethical trade/marketing practices and there being a Bit Of An Outcry about it, and then they changed.

Hang on, Google is my friend...

[ohmeohmy]

There was an article on bbc news website this morning saying how Nestle are buying millions of litres of milk off Mugabe's wife who now owns farms stolen from settlers.

So those not willing to boycott are funding the Mugabe regime. Is that KitKat really worth it?

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

Here is a bit about how awful Gap are.

And here's a story about how they're going to be better.

I must say, I never boycotted them, because they were the only place that sold socks that ds didn't take off. Dd wears Baby Gap socks too!

[wannaBe]

No I'm saying that it is not possible to boycott all the companies with immoral practices, so even if you choose to boycott one or some, you have to accept that you will still be giving money to immoral causes.

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

Well, yes, I agree 100% with you there wannaBe.

See, I'm torn between thinking it's important to try, and being overwhelmed by the seemingly utter futility of it all.

[wannaBe]

and all the high street clothing retailers use child labour. They just don't all get caught, and when they do they fane innosence and blame it on their suppliers....

[MmeLindt]

Living in Switzerland, I guess it would be almost impossible to boycott Nestlé as they own so many brands.

I am not a fan of boycotts, partly as I don't think that they work, and partly because I am too selfish and don't want to spend time looking for alternatives.

I would rather bombard the companies or my MP with emails and ask friends to do the same.

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

In an ideal world, of course, I would be living in the Good Life, and I'd make all my own food and clothes and be completely self-sufficient and not need to use any of these pesky high street brands. But I don't.

I do buy Fairtrade whenever I can, I do boycott Nestle and its associated companies, but really I can't live in a bubble. I would love to change the world, but it's not realistic. At least by boycotting Nestle I can feel like I'm doing something, even if it is completely futile.

[crankytwanky]

I haven't bought Nestle for, oooh, 15 odd years, and don't intend to. It does raise the issue if someone asks why I'm not buying an Aero etc.
However, if I eat fistfuls of Quality Street that have been bought into work, is that cheating?

[Trikken]

TAFKA was just wondering what your beef with Bodyshop was? thought they were supposed to be pretty good.

[WinkyWinkola]

Wasn't the Body Shop sold by Anita to L'Oreal, which is at least part owned by Nestlé?