Newish friend, very eco friendly, uses Nestle. Do I say anything?

[JackBauer]

Normally I don't mention the boycott when with friends but I ahve a new friend through playgroup. She is eBF, cloth nappying and going for work ina n environmental field so I know she is veyr eco friendly.
She is alos not from the UK.
When we went round the other day she had nescafe coffee out so obviously isn't boycotting.
I felt a bit weird, of all the people I know I would have thought she would have known about it, but I wasn't sure if I said something it woudl be construed as criticism (Her english is brilliant but slang etc can confuse her) or not

WWYD, make her aware of boycott? leave it?

I have been here a little while now and seen mention of Nestle etc but without doing research (lazyitis, sorry) what is the deal with the hate on Nestle etc please?

I have only ever seen mention of it on MN...

I would never speak to her again

surely it's just the same as with anyone else, politely decline nescafe and explain why if asked

You can read all about it here VK.

I'd either leave it or just express surprise when she uses something Nestle in front of you, which can open up the discussion.

That's what I was going to suggest CantSleepWontSleep.

60foot, yes, I must turn her into the local pariah!

This is the thing thoug shalli, she is the only person who has ever offered me coffee by saying 'Do you want a nescafe?' (And I really wanted a coffee)

I just wondered if she doesn't know would it be a good thing to tell her about it or not.

info.babymilkaction.org/nestlefree
this explains why- nestle are the main offenders when it comes to aggressive and unethical marketing of baby milk formula, epecially in developing countries where it's use is more hazardous

if she really has all those other concerns I would guess she just hasn't come across this campaign- I know it's international but bound to be better known in some countries than others.

Ahhh, thank you and apologies for my ignorance!

I don't think this is as widely known as you would hope. I had never heard of anything until joining MN and then finally asking on this thread, which I strongly suspect, means that none of my friends and acquaintances have either.

no why on earth should you say something?

There is no way to bring it up that won't make you sound smug and preachy.

And maybe she chooses not to boycott nestle. Maybe she likes nescafe, or maybe she feels (like most people) that these boycotts achieve nothing (which is true as nestle are still going strong).

It is a personal choice to boycott any product. It's not for anyone to inform anyone else that they think should be doing the same.

Imo it's similar to foisting your religion on someone.

Wot? No shredded wheat?

Just wondered those of you who boycott - what do you do if your child brings home smarties in a party bag? Or is found eating a kit kat? Or has a hot dog? Or are you so finely tuned to all the sub-brands you have developed avoidance instincts.

Maybe your friend is doing her thing her way and doesn't know she has to tick every box to qualify as an eco-minded mum? I'd let her know about it without lecturing.What's the worst that could happen? If she does know and doesn't care about it you might have an awkward silence.

Just wanted to say for future people like me that ask - the links provided did not quickly explain the boycott reasons. Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott does it better within the first few lines.

I do think Sally has a point though - what about when kids come home with nestle products? How do you handle that?

wannabe, that is exactly why I started the thread, I couldn't think of any way to say anything without it sounding smug and/or patronising.
I don't ever mention it out of the house TBH, it is somethign I do, bugger all to do with anyone else!

sally, I am not great with the sub-brands tbh, and if the DD's come home with somethign then it doens;t bther me really, I just don't like to spend my money on nestle stuff. I would eat/drink nestle brand stuff at someone else's house as
a - it would be bloody rude not to and
b - again, it's not my money!

I don't think she needs to tick a box, I just assumed she doesn't know.

re: kids - i've explained to ds1 why i don't buy nestle, and he agrees he doesn't want to have their products either
however he is 6, so if he was at a party he'd be unlikely to notice that smarties are nestle - i wouldn't make a thing about it if he'd eaten some
in a shop however i would point out what was nestle and what wasn't

I think the only way you could really bring it up would be to drop it into conversation in some suttle way - I dunnow, start a conversation about branded/own brand products and drop it in along the lines of "well the only brand I won't buy under any circs is nestle," and see if that prompts a response. If she doesn't know about the ban she will probably ask why, if she does know she probably won't respond and you'll have your answer.

Tbh you don't sound like the judgy preachy type, but I've certainly encountered them on here. I remember several years ago someone started a thread berating the bbc for serving some nestle product during some free audience, which prompted me to start a thread about not boycotting which went to over 800 posts and was full of personal attacks against people who don't boycott nestle.

Well, I know all about it, am eco-friendly and politically aware, and don't boycott Nestle.
However, I wouldn't mind a friend politely declining Nescafe and saying they boycott Nestle - wouldn't appreciate a lecture though.

Next time your friend offers you a Nestle product just say "no thankyou, I boycott Nestle". If she doesn't know about it and is interested she'll ask for more info.

Have you noticed how I cunningly hid the thread in WWYD, and NOT AIBU?

It's one thing if she knows why some people boycott Nestle, and then it's an informed decision, although personally would object to instant coffee

Think Wannabe's idea is good about general discussion about branded/unbranded which at least gives you the opportunity to get it into the conversation.

But am somewhat surprised by my friend's choices. One is an eco campaigner, and who made a snide remark about the fact that I didn't use reusable wipes ages ago, although have always used reusable nappies on both DCs, but she now uses Pampers on hers. Her choice, although I did chuckle.

JB you are more cunning than a cunning thing from cunningland!
I dont know what the answer is btw and am aware that i ma being annoyingly silly, but am bored. And a bit tipsy.

The nestle boycott isn't about being eco friendly though, is it? It's more of a moral issue.
Perhaps she just isn't that bothered, like most people.

Be very careful how you 'casually' mention it or you might look a bit odd.

no I wouldn't offer instant coffee either. but... I would offer coffee from ... my dolce gusto machine which is made by nescafe.