Nastie Nestlé

Nestlé bribes doctors in Pakistan

Pakistan has had a draft law implementing the International Code and Resolutions waiting to be implemented since 1992. This law is vital, as bottlefeeding in Pakistan is a deadly formula for increased illness, malnutrition and mortality. Monitoring reports, such as the 1998 Feeding Fiasco, document many abuses such as bribes to doctors, free samples to new mothers, promotion through the health care system and labeling of products without the required information to prevent improper and unnecessary use.

Now a new report, Milking Profits, based on evidence provided by a former Nestlé employee, Syed Aamar Raza. Mr. Raza with documented detail _ minutes of meetings, pay slips and copies of cheques _ reports the use of bribery by senior Nestlé executives implicating Nestlé as a barrier to the passage of the Pakistan draft law for the marketing of infant foods. Mr. Raza put Nestlé's executives on notice, calling on them to stop these practices. When offers of money to drop his action failed, Mr. Raza received life threats. Undaunted he has continued to publicise his evidence. With the help of the UK IBFAN group Baby Milk Action, he has presented his evidence to the British Medical Association, the House of Commons and numerous media. Shortly before his presentation to the British House of Commons, shots were fired at Mr. Raza's house in Pakistan; his brother fortunately remained unharmed.

--From IBFAN's Campaign for Ethical Marketing