to add Annabel Karmel products to my boycott of Nestle?

[GoldenSnitch]

I've been a "fan" of Annabel Karmel's page on Facebook for a while now and occasionally get updates when she changes her status. The most recent of these changes read "check out some amazing recipes we created from nestle wholegrain, had a lot of fun with mummy bloggers and zoe ball, greg searle and lesley waters giving tips and advice".

A few people have commented on this posting with comments regarding how unhappy they are that Annabel Karmel would be seen to be supporting a company that many people regard as not having babies and children's best interests at heart. As someone who's entire career is based on childhood nutrition, it seems like a very unwise partnership to create.

In response to the comments made 'Annabel Karmel' (I realise it's her marketing team, not the woman herself) have responded with a link to an official statement on her web page. The statement reads like this - "We have had a few enquiries about my association with Nestle whole grain cereals campaign. Amazingly 90% of Brits don?t eat enough whole grains, so we had great fun devising recipes using Nestle whole grains such as buzzy bees and salmon fishcakes. We know that all mums are pressed for time so not only are my recipes fun but are really quick and easy to make.

We were only involved with the whole grain cereals campaign, however there were a few concerns about the association Nestle parent brand itself and the marketing of infant formula. We are happy to work with Nestle the company and my decision was based on the evidence as it stands today.

I agree with and firmly support Neslte?s belief breast feeding is the best way to feed a baby. However, not all mothers can breast feed and the only suitable substitute to breast milk approved by the World Health Organisation is infant formula. It is evident that Nestle complies with the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk substitutes (1981) and is very sensitive to the challenges that confront mothers in developing countries."

Link to statement

Now, as far as I was aware, the whole point of the Nestle boycott is that Nestle do not comply with the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk substitutes (1981)

They may be forced into complying in the UK, but they're not quite so constrained when it comes to some third world countries. Babymilkaction has some more details of where and how they're thought to be breaking the rules. They say that "Nestlé is targeted with the boycott because monitoring conducted by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) finds it to be responsible for more violations of the World Health Assembly marketing requirements for baby foods than any other company"

So, seeing as the whole statement justifying the involvement with Nestle seems to be utter rubbish, AIBU to add boycotting Annabel Karmel to my Nestle boycott?

YANBU The thing about the 'wholegrains' is that 'cos Nestle do not make organic cereal .

you are probably taking in more pesticides. fungicides etc. when you eat their wholegrain than not. Also there are a lot of allergies related to whole wheat.

I WOULD NOT GIVE NESTLE WHOLEGRAINS TO MY CHILDREN

It gets worse - new status reads "Annabel has joined Team Whole Grain to champion the benefits of whole grain & show how easy it is for families to integrate it into their diet - through breakfast cereals. There are numerous health benefits associated with a whole grain diet. Nestle is best placed to answer questions regarding infant formula - www.babymilk.nestle.com or call 0800 00 00 30"

Glad to see some of those on her fanpage are MNers! Helps to know where people are coming from.

Boy this is tough and they keep deleting stuff. If anyone wants the information leaflet about Annabel's untrue statements about Nestle it's still available either as a pdf or from The Politics of Breastfeeding as a pjg.

GS,I think I know who you are...

BTW, the offer of a Politics book is from POLITICS!

(and I meant jpg in my last message )

Know who I am on Facebook or in RL?

I guess there are a lot of cross-overs but the only one I've guessed is DawnTigga.

hadn't noticed them deleting stuff

I would imagine this is part of Nestle's PR plan:

See here for more details

"Nestle has an abysmal image. According to PR Week: "Nestle received a 'positivity' score in social media of just 12 out of 100 in an audit by Yomego Social Media Reputation." Is it responding by agreeing to our four-point plan for ending the boycott over its baby food marketing? No. It's hiring more PR experts."

On Facebook - we're not friends but I think I know who you are on the AK page. Think I know who you mean too.

Martin's offer to send a book was deleted and Justice Seeker's information leaflet has gone. The original announcement seems to have gone too. There have been a few comments that random posts have disappeared.

YANBU - For someone who is supposed to care about childrens nutrition she shows a shocking lack of awareness

She is a hideous woman. She also happens to look like an extra from a bad stepford wives re-make. Makes my skin shudder just thinking about her.

Ladypops, I don't think that Annabel Karmel's appearance has anything to do with this issue really. Women have a hard enough time of it without other women criticising how they look.

Goldensnitch, have you ever thought that some of the people on Facebook might just be disagreeing because they feel aggrieved at the intrusion on to a fan page? You have the right to your opinion, but you also have to let others have their opinions.

I've never stopped anyone having their own opinion!!

And if just 1 person says "OMG, I didn't know Nestle do that, I'm joining the boycott" after reading the information posted on a public forum on which Annabel Karmel has chosen to create a fanpage then I'll be happy.

Just because some people don't care about what happens to those less fortune than them does not mean that they can censor what's written on the internet. You want fluffy loveliness without the intrusion of uncomfortable facts then stick to her books!!

Just an observation that's all

Maybe if people observed the world around them a bit more and stopped navel gazing then Nestle wouldn't get away with the shit they pull in the first place!

one of the links on the AK page is to tthe NCT

who are surely big supporters of the Nestlé boycott.. although Davina McCall who was a spokesperson for them does advertise Loreal/garnier who are part of the nestlé brand

suppose everyone has their price.

I always find it a shame when people resort to profanities. We have a language so rich and descriptive. That aside, I have to say that some of the comments show that people do indeed observe the world and have acted as they see fit.
There are some comments from people who are so desperate to prove what they do, yet these actions bear very little relevance to anything let alone the Annabel Karmel/Nestle debate.
I didn't see any point in posting on the site, as the arguments have gone so off track now.

I have a 13 week old baby. It's tough to be tired and eloquent.

As far as I can see, the Facebook comments have now descended into an argument about whether or not people should be able to criticize Annabel Karmel on her own page.

I personally believe that as she's created a page on a social networking site then she has opened herself up to comments good or bad and both groups have an equal right to post on there.

I think there are a lot of people massively missing the point too. No-one is telling anyone that they are a bad parent because they bottle feed or because they use Annabel Karmel recipes. What people are trying to say is that someone so trusted and respected when it comes to children's nutrition is sending out a very bad message by supporting a company who seem to care very little for that same nutrition as long as they make money. By endorsing them, she is encouraging her fans to support them too by including named products in her recipes. The partnership also lends them the trust and affection people have for her which Nestle do not deserve.

I hope a few people who may not have heard about Nestle's practices have learned about the company from the comments they have read on Facebook and will now do their own research and support the boycott accordingly. Then it will all have been worth it.

If Annabel Karmel would retract her association with Nestle then that would be fantastic too but I very much doubt that will happen - which is a pity as I liked her books and won't be able to buy any more.

YANBU Goldensnitch. Thank you for making me aware of this. I'm adding AK to my boycott of Nestle and will be making others aware of this as well.

Thanks lisianthus.

Whoo Hoo!!!

She's discontinuing the relationship with Nestle!!

"We have had a few enquiries about my association on the Nestlé whole grain cereals campaign. I was initially happy to work with them on a range of healthy cereals which met my ideals on nutrition. However after listening to people?s comments, I have made the decision not to continue my association with Nestle. Annabel"

It's amazing what seeing your reputation dive through the floor will do for your decision making processes