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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To politely suggest to the Nursery that they shouldn't be using Nestle products?

288 replies

zimm · 19/10/2011 10:03

DD's otherwise excellent nursery serves some nestle branded cereals. This doesn't sit well with me as I don't think a place that cares for children should support Nestle. I imagine it just hasn't crossed their minds but it does bug me that her fess are used to buy products from Nestle. WIBU to take in some baby milk action stuff and make a suggestion they switch products? Yes I know they are are bigger things to worry about but I do believe if a nestle boycott is worth doing, then it is worth doing right.

OP posts:
grumplestilskin · 20/10/2011 13:22

all nestle cereals have own brand copies so no child would be deprived of favourites

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 13:28

What grumplestilskin said. Where's there's a copy why not switch?

Obviously even I have my £2 purchase. And I've just remembered the San Pelligrano (cans of drink and no others available in the cafe on a hot day out). So I'm up to £6. Grin

It's really not hard to boycott Nestle because there are so many copies/alternatives. Boycotting doesn't have to be the equivilent of wearing a hair shirt. It's not about paying a pennance but just making a small change that might have a wider influence.

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 13:30

I am tempted to add that it'll do no harm for children to learn disapointment by being deprived of favourite ceral. But I don't believe that. I know how hard it is to get some children to eat and that many don't cope well with change.

I'm suggesting a surrupticious swap where packets cannot be seen.

wigglesrock · 20/10/2011 14:10

Have to say having a little snicker about being a sneaky beaky and swapping childrens cereals on moral grounds Grin. Am going to have to hide this thread as am completely sucked in - its strange I'm a big boycotter usually but this one specific example can't quite reconcile it. The nursery serves some Nestle products, there is a choice not to have any.

madhairday · 20/10/2011 15:08

'Sorry, Katie, but what about the parents whose children come back from the nursery upset because their favourite cereal has disappeared?'

Oh, why not swap that then with 'but what about the parents whose children have died of dysentry because Nestle persuaded them that their milk was better than bfing?'

Get some perspective.

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 15:24

Put like that it does seem rather absurd.

Andrewofgg · 20/10/2011 15:27

madhairday The other child is the one OP would be affecting. I

t's right to say that if I were that other child's parent I would not get too exercised about it in RL, but that's because I'm far more easy-going in that horrid RL than I am here. And I don't think I'm alone there.

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 15:35

But am I right in thinking if the children didn't know the difference (ie didn't know it was not Shreddies but a non-brand copy) then you'd have no objection?

I mean I don't care if the meat is Halal or not. It makes no odds to me or mine

kelly2000 · 20/10/2011 15:40

If the OP does not want her child fed nestle then that is fine, but whether you agree or not nestle is not banned in the UK and it is not up to the OP to dictate what other children have. This is the same for all types of food be it vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, organic, cruelty free etc. If the OP has a real problem with other children having nestle then she will have to find another nursery.

wannaBe · 20/10/2011 15:50

you do realize don't you, that most brand-free cereals are made by nestle? In the same way that most washing powders are made by the same company/appliances are made by the same manufacturers.

If you think that by switching to tescos own or a non branded one you are boycotting nestle you are deluded.

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 15:54

I might have missed it but I haven't seen anyone on the thread insist Kelly2000. I've seen people say ask, do it politely and leave it if they're not keen. Can't see the harm there tbh.

grumplestilskin · 20/10/2011 15:54

no I'm not deluded, as I've said down the thread I know that the apparent alternatives are from same parent companies, BUT if enough people do it that it is noted that the ones with Nestle marked on the brand are being avoided it at least sends a message about how consumers feel right? even if it doesn't actually damage the company it at least tells retailers about consumers views

and while I don't know for sure if the alternatives are by nestle, that feels different to me to knowingly purchase a nestle marked product, I don't want to actively condone it IYKWIM

shagmundfreud · 20/10/2011 16:02

"Sorry, Katie, but what about the parents whose children come back from the nursery upset because their favourite cereal has disappeared? Why are your preferences more important than the other parents' preferences which might be to reinstate the choice?"

God forbid that uk children might be deprived of their favourite brand of breakfast cereal, in an attempt to bring commercial pressure on multinational companies engaging in unethical behaviour affecting the health and welfare of tiny babies from developing countries. Hmm

I can't believe that someone has actually made this point.

Where's Ben Elton when you need him?

kelly2000 · 20/10/2011 16:02

katie,
I think it would be better to raise it with other parents first to be honest.

Andrewofgg · 20/10/2011 16:03

No, Katie, if I were a real purist I would say that the other parents should be asked but I'm not and I don't! If the other children don't notice I'm content.

Happy to be pinned down. And good luck even mentioning Halal . . . you might want to alert the fire brigade.

shagmundfreud · 20/10/2011 16:08

"it is not up to the OP to dictate what other children have"

I might have missed something but I haven't seen the OP saying she's going to insist that the nursery change to Nestle. Only that she's going to suggest that they do.

It's up to the nursery if they want to comply with her request.

If they do read the material she gives them and feel there's some value in it, then other parents are of course free to lobby the nursery to continue to serve Nestle cereal on the grounds that a) they have evidence that boycotts aren't effective as a way of forcing companies to change their practice or perhaps b) that their childs' right to eat branded cereals trumps the right of mothers in developing countries to choose the safest food for their babies without being subject to manipulative and dishonest advertising pressure.

Rocketlollies · 20/10/2011 16:12

YANBU!

It's a disgrace that a nursery is using Nestle products.

I'd definitely mention it to the staff. Perhaps email the nursery with a decent info link?

shagmundfreud · 20/10/2011 16:13

Andrewofgg, I can only imagine you adopt the stance you do because you believe either that Nestle isn't guilty of any of unethical practice in terms of its marketing strategies, or because you believe that boycotts don't work.

Which one is it? And do you have any evidence that would support your stance?

Because if you were arguing that the right of UK children to be fussy about trivial differences in the taste and texture of their breakfast cereal trumped the importance of protecting mothers and babies in developing countries from commercial pressure when it comes to crucial feeding choices - well, it would be a bit hideous wouldn't it?

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 16:14

Ha ha. You loved being pinned down. I can tell Wink

Also you are on my "sensible poster" list so I am relieved.

Kelly I know I am odd but the nursery are always wanting to know my opinion on this, that or the other and I mainly just don't care. If they asked me if I minded if they swapped to another brand of cereal I would think they were bonkers and it was a massive waste of my time. But I would also feel that way if they took pork off the menu or anything else. I don't care about the minutae like that.

I never even asked what they feed the children when I went in to look. My criteria is that he is fed.

shagmundfreud · 20/10/2011 16:23

"and I mainly just don't care"

Katie, I think the whole 'ethical consumer' thing is in its infancy, but it is slowly sinking in that how we spend our money in the UK can have an impact on the lives and welfare of much less privileged people in other countries.

I like the thought that there are many small changes (none of which have any real impact on the quality of our lives) we can make which may help improve the lives of people a long way a way.

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 16:24

Hmmm asking the parents. I might have to think a bit more. I mean I know I'm not bothered but some folks do get very excited about their DC's rights. I've seen the threads where there is always at least one twat poster coming on to threads about peanuts being banned in schools saying it's not fair on their kid. Even if another child might die; Little Timmy has the right to eat a Tracker bar. And this is not even in the same league.

I think the nursery should trial it and not tell anyone and if they get complaints from parents who's child can forensically analyse the difference between a Nestle Shreddie and a Tesco one then they can look at the policy again.

KatieMortician · 20/10/2011 16:28

Yup I think you make a good point shagmund. My default position is apathy. Occasionally there is a compelling reason (like the Nestle boycott) to move my position to one of holding an opinion.

Where I am apathetic I am happy to accommodate someone's principles when it will make no discernable difference to me. That's just good manners really.

screamingbohemian · 20/10/2011 16:43

A nursery owner might also reasonably be afraid of alienating other parents by participating in the boycott. Almost like saying 'We're boycotting Nestle because they're unethical but you go ahead and buy it you thoughtless monsters'

spiderpig8 · 20/10/2011 17:39

I think you can ask the nursery not to serve Nestle products to your DC (which would make your point nicely), but to tell them not to serve it to other people's Dc is unreasonable.
I think the boycott is pointless.I can't see them feeling it even in the tip of their littlest toenail.And if they did it would be the poor beggars working on the shop floor taking the pain -getting their overtim cut, redundancy.Are they the people you want to hurt?

madhairday · 20/10/2011 17:41

Liking your posts shagmund

screaming, all the better if they do help other people think about their choices which they haven't perhaps had the opportunity/information to consider before. A nursery/workplace etc boycotting something doesn't tell everyone else they should, it just makes the statement that they have made a considered decision for their setting.