Hotel distributing formula to babymooners

[frickchen]

Did anyone catch the segment on the Today Show last week (Thur. or Fri.) where they were talking about babymooning--a holiday before the baby is born? Giada (pregnant) was talking with a travel expert about lavish vacation packages catering to expectant moms.

A hotel in Charleston, The Planters Inn, gives out formula as part of their package. Their website provides further detail:
"Stylish, insulated backpack complete with Nestle baby formula, baby bottle, and information about infant care, all courtesy of Nestle"

http://www.plantersinn.com/packages.htm

Sounds like Nestle has found yet another way to target new moms (unless I'm out of the loop and this has been going on for awhile, which is very possible )

I want to write a letter to the hotel and ask them to stop distributing formula, but I'm having a hard time framing my argument. Why is it in their interest to stop giving out a freebie to their guests?

I think this is in violation of the WHO code, right? Would the hotel care about that?

Is there an analogy I could use?

I just don't want to send a long-winded letter about the history of Nestle, the benefits of BM . . . to appeal to their moral conscience (if corporations have a conscience)

Any ideas on how to approach this?

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

Yes is is a definite violation. How disturbing that Nestle finds yet another dirty way to violate the code, sabatoge expectant mothers bf goals, and get free advertising! Not only would I write a letter pointing out the violation of the WHO code, which they probably do not even know if in the hotel industry, but I would send this info to this site as well: http://www.babymilkaction.org/index.html

[menomena]

Oh lordy, this makes me sick. Where's the barf icon?

I would definitely say something to them. Mention the WHO violation and the fact that many moms are concerned about this sort of thing and won't use the services of people who violate the code or associate with nestle as they (nestle) violate the code...

*sigh*

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

:
I am in the midst of my letter to them already!

[Tine]

That's horrifying!

[ananas]

I will definitely be writing a letter. That's disgusting.

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

My letter is sent and I reported them to IBFAN and BMA

Busy half hour I have had! Nothing like this adrenaline to help my headache though

Anyway, this is what I wrote:

To Whom it May Concern,

When reading the details of your baby moon package I was very disturbed to see this: "Stylish, insulated backpack complete with Nestle baby formula, baby bottle, and information about infant care, all courtesy of Nestle "

Why am I disturbed? Well it saddens me to see that your company probably does not even realize that there is an international code of marketing for breast milk substitutes and I doubt your company realizes that it is in violation of this code. I can promise you this though, Nestle is WELL AWARE that this is a code violation and your facility is now just another pawn in their evil game. From the IBFAN site, "The aim of this Code is to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and distribution."

How disturbing that Nestle finds yet another dirty way to violate the code, target and sabotage expectant mothers who have goals to breast feed, and get free advertising to boot! Are you aware that Nestle has been the target of an international boycott since 1977? Nestle is well known for its unethical marketing tactics and according to Baby Milk Action "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."

By distributing these Nestle packages to mothers, you are not only violating the WHO code, but you are possibly sabotaging breastfeeding. This letter would take you ten years to read if I was to list all of the reasons why a baby should be breast fed, as well as the risks of infant formula. Even in our developed country, babies get very sick everyday from diseases and illnesses that could have been prevented by breastfeeding. Sadly, babies also die from some of these.

I have reported your company to IBFAN as well as Baby Milk Action for its violations to the Code. My hope is that your company will stop distributing the Nestle kits immediately.

I would also be more than happy to suggest some non-promotional, free information that you can easily obtain and distribute to mothers if you are interested.

Sincerely,
Heather RN, IBCLC, RLC

All the areas I bolded I also linked to in my email to them, these are the links in the same order, for some reason I can't do it the same way here:

http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/...rt_id=51&iui=1
http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/boycott.htmlNestle
http://www.babymilkaction.org/
http://www.drjaygordon.com/developme...supplement.asp

[TattoMomK]

Would it be fair to believe that Nestle is paying the hotel in order to distribute these formula packs? That's what formula co's did with Dr.'s and hospitals for years right? Maybe not cold, hard cash but perhaps free products for their kitchens? Does Nestle own paper companies that might distribute toilet paper and tissue? Or perhaps, if the hotel is aligned with a museum, preservation society, etc, Nestle could be "donating?"

I wonder how we could find out? I am sure it's pretty buried in paperwork.

[TattoMomK]

Oh check it out! When you click on availability you get this bit:

The Baby's on the Way package includes three nights' accommodation in a luxury guest room or suite, as well as Peninsula Grill's gourmet Signature Breakfast for two each morning. Upon your arrival, you will find a basket of Charleston specialty gifts and bottled water for your enjoyment, as well as a signature Planters Inn teddy bear for the enjoyment of your growing family. A jar of pickles for the expectant mother and a cigar and cognac for the father-to-be are included as "tongue-in-cheek" gifts. Nestle, upon learning of this package, has included a stylish insulated backpack complete with baby formula, a baby bottle, and information on infant care.(emphasis mine)

How VERY NICE of Nestle....

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

Originally Posted by TattoMomK

Would it be fair to believe that Nestle is paying the hotel in order to distribute these formula packs? That's what formula co's did with Dr.'s and hospitals for years right? Maybe not cold, hard cash but perhaps free products for their kitchens? Does Nestle own paper companies that might distribute toilet paper and tissue? Or perhaps, if the hotel is aligned with a museum, preservation society, etc, Nestle could be "donating?"

I wonder how we could find out? I am sure it's pretty buried in paperwork.

I would not be surprised in the least bit if this was the case.

[frickchen]

It's strangely comforting that you all are equally outraged at this Thanks for your letters and thoughts!

I did some googling to see if I could find more hotels in violation.

www.babymoonfinder.com lists a hotel in CA offering a "100% cotton nursing gown" and thanks Nestle for providing a free backpack.

The links are dead, so maybe they're out of business?

I wonder how widespread this is?

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

You can report violations of the WHO code here:
http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/...t_id=418&iui=1

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

Just wanted to update, since this was posted yesterday and brought to the attention of other lactivists, the hotel has been contacted, the manager Tim Davies who knew nothing of the nestle boycott and stated he was taking this to his ethics people. According to the person who spoke w/ him, he seemed shocked about the issue. He also stated that Nestle gave them the products for free, <insert sarcastic shock smiley here>

In addition, I have heard back from IBFAN, and it was not a form letter. I can't post here, but to summarize they wrote that they found the information to be very interesting and they have downloaded the relevant webpage to share with our other colleagues of theres. After that they will decide how best to disseminate the information since this
is the first time they have encountered Nestle working with a hotel on their
promotional package. Also they asked if we could possibly get a picture of the kit provided, so if anyone happens to have one please let me know.

Also I will be passing along to ibfan the info from the OP that this is not the only hotel.

Looks like there may be some lactivist progress going on here! :

[ananas]

Originally Posted by Breastfeeding Insomniac

Just wanted to update, since this was posted yesterday and brought to the attention of other lactivists, the hotel has been contacted, the manager Tim Davies who knew nothing of the nestle boycott and stated he was taking this to his ethics people. According to the person who spoke w/ him, he seemed shocked about the issue. He also stated that Nestle gave them the products for free, <insert sarcastic shock smiley here>

In addition, I have heard back from IBFAN, and it was not a form letter. I can't post here, but to summarize they wrote that they found the information to be very interesting and they have downloaded the relevant webpage to share with our other colleagues of theres. After that they will decide how best to disseminate the information since this
is the first time they have encountered Nestle working with a hotel on their
promotional package. Also they asked if we could possibly get a picture of the kit provided, so if anyone happens to have one please let me know.

Also I will be passing along to ibfan the info from the OP that this is not the only hotel.

Looks like there may be some lactivist progress going on here! :

Yay!

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Breastfeeding Insomniac

Just wanted to update, since this was posted yesterday and brought to the attention of other lactivists, the hotel has been contacted, the manager Tim Davies who knew nothing of the nestle boycott and stated he was taking this to his ethics people. According to the person who spoke w/ him, he seemed shocked about the issue. He also stated that Nestle gave them the products for free, <insert sarcastic shock smiley here>

In addition, I have heard back from IBFAN, and it was not a form letter. I can't post here, but to summarize they wrote that they found the information to be very interesting and they have downloaded the relevant webpage to share with our other colleagues of theres. After that they will decide how best to disseminate the information since this
is the first time they have encountered Nestle working with a hotel on their
promotional package. Also they asked if we could possibly get a picture of the kit provided, so if anyone happens to have one please let me know.

Also I will be passing along to ibfan the info from the OP that this is not the only hotel.

Looks like there may be some lactivist progress going on here! :

Please let us know if you hear more!

[turtlewomyn]

Sort of OT, but since you all have gotten some progress made, is anyone annoyed that they seemed to have hijacked the term "babymoon"? I always thought your babymoon was the month or so after the baby arrives when you lay low to get to know your little one and establish breastfeeding. Now it is an expensive vacation for you and DH to take prior to the baby being born????:

[menomena]

Wow mamas, WTG!!!

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

Originally Posted by turtlewomyn

Sort of OT, but since you all have gotten some progress made, is anyone annoyed that they seemed to have hijacked the term "babymoon"? I always thought your babymoon was the month or so after the baby arrives when you lay low to get to know your little one and establish breastfeeding. Now it is an expensive vacation for you and DH to take prior to the baby being born????:

YES! When I posted it to another list I am on, I had to clarify the difference bc we all assume babymoon is exactly how you describe it.

[frickchen]

To think that I hesitated to post about this because I was feeling out of the loop not having visited MDC in awhile--surely someone else caught it!

Anyhow glad I did, and then I came back from running errands to find it had already traveled across the Atlantic and across the US!

Thanks fellow lactivists!

[moderngal]

how disgusting!!

Heather- thanks for your letter and update. Way to go, mama!!

And re: babymoons- I only knew of the vacation kind. The first few weeks with a newborn sure weren't peaceful or relaxing to me!!