to ask how many of you boycott Nestle?

[Miren]

Just noticed the stamp on the MN homepage and wondered how many of you do it.

I have for about 5 years, and even DH and DC are careful with what they choose when shopping (not been persuaded by me, they've just picked it up I guess). DH even decided to return a coffee machine bought by his DF for Christmas because it would mean buying the pods from Nestle

Sorry for crap typing btw I'm on my phone and have very large fingers!!

We do with no exceptions. The Richard Quest "Quest means business" programme on CNN recently shows they have no intention of changing their policies re child labour . This has caused family rows when my DC's ( i'm so proud of them) have refused Nestle chocolates and sweets given by family members.

No, I like their products too much, yummy.
If I found a better coffee then maybe, but haven't yet.

No. Love too many of their products.

so where do we draw the line at which company's practices warrant a boycott....?

apple (one of the highest suicide rates of employees in the world)
Coca cola (2.5 litres of water consumed for every liter of coke produced, thus meaning huge water wastage, added to that their pledge to never be out of sight of a bottle of coke pictured with a baby holding a bottle of coke instead of milk)
Pretty much any high street clothing store for the use of sweat shops in the developing world.

There pretty much isn't any company who is without flaw -- and it simply isn't possible to boycott them all neither does it actually make a difference, so boycotting on the whole is a personal thing rather than something which actually makes any change....

Nestle employ children to pick cocoa beans in Ivory Coast. Some other companies also do this but have made pledges to stop in next 2 years or so. Nestle refuse to do so.Kit kat is there only fair trade/ utz product because of this.

Absolutely boycott.

It's hard work though as they produce so much. Just had to change dog food as I discovered they make Beta food. Dogs loved it. Gah.

I find the view that most companies have dubious practices and you can't boycott them all very depressing and lame.

You have to pick and choose which ones obviously but to do nothing if you feel there is injustice going on is pitiful really.

Consumers are far more powerful than they think.

I don't. It's not going to make a change if I do anyway. Great products as well.

This is my favourite Coca-Cola ad:

I do but I know it's symbolic.
It is as workers not as consumers that we hold power. Sadly, only potential power, as there is no organised left.
I know that not buying Shreddies isn't going to save any babies. I just really, really, don't want to be associated with the people who caused babies to die by lying to their mothers and denying them mothers' milk.

They do lots of other evil things too, such as the CEO saying that water is not a basic human right. Nestle drain poor areas of natural water resources, which is of course very good for sales of their bottled water... www.trueactivist.com/nestle-ceo-water-is-not-a-human-right-should-be-privatized/

I avoid them although their sneaky practice of hiding behind brands which aren't easily connected to them make it difficult. Nasty company

Consumers are far more powerful than they think.

Hasn't this boycott been going on for decades? During which time Nestle have become a huge, massive company - one of a few multinationals that between them own just about every brand you can think of?

I boycott them, no exceptions. After I met women in Guatemala who had oldest babies after aggressive marketing of milk, and visited a coffee plantation that supplied Nestlé, I could never buy their products, however good they may be!

Isn't it a bit patronising and paternalistic for people in the first world to be thinking that third world women are too stupid and easily led by advertising to choose breast milk over formula?

Have you tried raw winkywinkola? If you have a friendly butcher he'll chuck you a few carcasses for free. So much better for doggies

I suppose, when I think about it, I avoid a lot of big corporations instinctively now. Tesco, McDonalds, all the coffee shops. I always opt for independents/fair trade/organic products wherever possible. It's tricky when it comes to electricals though. Although I do buy from our local independent shop, the brands are hard to avoid.

I have for about 10 years. I cant believe they're still so backwards.

I try. I've lurked since almost the beginning of MN. But dc do love Cheerios so I cave every now and again. But no to nestle chocolate.

Trying to avoid palm oil is harder though.

I always did, and then kind of forgot about it. But i can't think of one Nestle product i like anyway, so i probably still do just by habit and personal taste.

What products are Nestle that are good?

"Isn't it a bit patronising and paternalistic for people in the first world to be thinking that third world women are too stupid and easily led by advertising to choose breast milk over formula?"

No. No, it isn't.

Boycott here - has been for 18 years or so. Fairtrade all the way...

I don't!

"Consumers are far more powerful than they think.

Hasn't this boycott been going on for decades? During which time Nestle have become a huge, massive company - one of a few multinationals that between them own just about every brand you can think of?"

Can you imagine how much bigger they would be without the boycott?

well, given that nestle have been the most widely boycotted company for the past thirty years and have gone from strength to strength I think it's fairly evident that consumers in this instance do in fact hold no power at all.

I think it's personal choice to boycott any company/product for whatever reason you see fit, but it is very much personal choice and others should not be judged for not following suit given it makes very little difference.

"I know that not buying Shreddies isn't going to save any babies. I just really, really, don't want to be associated with the people who caused babies to die by lying to their mothers and denying them mothers' milk."

Yes. This ^^

No.