Mothering Forum banner

letters needed to stop Nestle wine & dine in BC Canada

939 views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  loitering 
#1 ·
Dear Friends,

I would like to thank all of you who reached me off line asking how to participate in stopping Nestle from offering a "wine and dine" talk to health professionals at a fancy hotel, in Burnaby, BC, Canada. To date hundreds of emails have gone to Nestle urging that the talk be cancelled but as of this evening, the talk is still on. It is not too late to participate in our email campaign - we need to let Nestle know they cannot get away with their aggressive and unethical marketing. If the talk is not cancelled we plan to notify the media and will demonstrate on site on June 12, 2008.

If you would like to participate in the email campaign and if you live in the Vancouver area and would like to join us in demonstrating (hopefully it won't be necessary), please contact me off line for more information.

Many thanks,

Renee Hefti - Graham
RN, Lactation Consultant
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

From: INFACT Canada [mailto:ben@infactcanada.ca]
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 2:51 PM
To: Ben
Subject: ***ACTION ALERT*** Help get Nestle event cancelled!

Dear Friends,

We need your help to stop Nestlé's plans to give a wine and dine infant feeding talk (June 12, 2008) to health professionals in Burnaby, B.C. As many of you know, Nestlé attempted a similar event in Burnaby last year, but after our letter-writing campaign, it was cancelled. Apparently they think they can get away with it this year.

The main speaker at the event is Owennie Lee, a registered dietitian. This event violates both the International Code and the College of Dietitians of British Columbia's code of ethics.

B.C. has a 95 per cent breastfeeding rate because health workers there work hard to protect breastfeeding from the commercial pressures to artificially feed. We are asking that concerned people throughout B.C., Canada and internationally email Nestle to let them know we will not put up with marketing that violates the WHO Code.

Please email Oweenie Lee (owennie.lee@ca.nestle.com) and Catherine O'Brien at Corporate Affairs at Nestlé (Catherine.Obrien@ca.nestle.com). See INFACT Canada's letter below or write your own.

You can also email the College of Dietitians of British Columbia at info@collegeofdietitiansbc.org. See INFACT's letter below.

Please CC Renee Hefti-Graham, who started this campaign, so she can measure the momentum. (Renee Hefti renhefti@telus.net)

If the talk is not cancelled, a demonstration is planned on June 12, 2008.

Your email will make a difference!

Sample Letters

********************

To: Owennie Lee, registered dietitian

Cc: Catherine O'Brien, Nestlé Corporate affairs

Dear Ms. Lee,

I'm writing to you about the upcoming Nestlé event in Burnaby called "the Infant Feeding Maze." As you may be aware, because this is a violation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. The International Code was created in 1981 by the WHO and UNICEF to protect infant health and breastfeeding, and violating it can put infants and young children at risk.

Article 7.3 of the Code states: "No financial or material inducements to promote [infant feeding products] should be offered by manufacturers or distributors to health workers". An expensive dinner at a downtown hotel could certainly be construed as a material inducement to win the favour of health professionals.

Resolution 49.15 of the World Health Assembly, which carries the same weight as the Code, states companies like Nestlé have a responsibility "to ensure that the financial support for professionals working in infant and young child health does not create conflicts of interest". Clearly the sponsorship of nutrition conferences by a formula company creates a conflict of interest for health workers who attend.

This event is also a violation of the College of Dietitians of British Columbia's Code of Ethics, which states that dietitians must "avoid bias," "remain professionally objective", and "refrain from real or perceived conflict of interest." The WHO, Health Canada, and the Dietitians of Canada all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life as the optimal way to feed infants. Clearly, a dietitian partnering with a formula company inhibits her ability to promote breastfeeding and creates a clear conflict of interest.

Nestlé attempted to stage a similar conference in Burnaby last year, but was obliged to cancel it after letters of protest were written by health professionals and concerned citizens across the country. That the company is so persistent in attempting to violate the Code is discouraging. I respectfully request that you abide by the International Code and the CDBC's Code of Ethics and cancel this event.

Our contacts in Burnaby have expressed their willingness to demonstrate at the event should it go ahead, as well as to contact local media. I hope that, as happened last year, Nestlé will realize the folly of events like this and consider abiding by the Code in the future.

Sincerely,

To: Melanie Journoud and Fern Hubbard
College of Dietitians of British Columbia
info@collegeofdietitiansbc.org

Dear College of Dietitians of British Columbia,

I'm writing to you regarding the upcoming event in Burnaby on June 12 entitled "The Infant Feeding Maze", being hosted by Nestlé Nutrition. Local health workers have been invited to the event, and the evening's speaker is Owennie Lee, a registered dietitian.

This talk is being staged by Nestlé, the world's largest infant formula company, and it is aimed at professionals who work with mothers and babies. It is unreasonable to expect that it will be purely informational, and not promotional in nature.

The WHO, Health Canada, and the Dietitians of Canada all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life as the optimal way to feed infants. Nestlé has a vested interest in discouraging breastfeeding and promoting infant formula. Therefore participation in events like this present health workers with a conflict of interest, and are in violation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

The International Code was created in 1981 by the WHO and UNICEF to protect infant health and breastfeeding, and violating it can put infants and young children at risk. Article 7.3 of the Code states: "No financial or material inducements to promote [infant feeding products] should be offered by manufacturers or distributors to health workers". The event in question includes an expensive dinner at a downtown hotel, which could certainly be construed as a material inducement to win the favour of health professionals.

Resolution 49.15 of the World Health Assembly, which carries the same weight as the Code, states companies like Nestlé have a responsibility "to ensure that the financial support for professionals working in infant and young child health does not create conflicts of interest". Clearly the sponsorship of nutrition conferences by a formula company creates a conflict of interest for health workers who attend, and compromises their ability to promote breastfeeding.

The CDBC's own Code of Ethics states that BC dietitians must "avoid bias" and "remain professionally objective." How can a dietitian who is being paid by a formula company effectively convey what's best for babies, namely the benefits of breastfeeding and the risks associated with artificial formula? The Code of Ethics also states that dietitians must "refrain from real or perceived conflict of interest" and "advocate for the client at all times." If she's speaking at an event sponsored by Nestlé, how can a dietitian claim she's advocating for anyone but the company? This can surely be perceived as a conflict of interest.

While I am aware that CDBC is understands the importance of breastfeeding, that an accredited member of your organization would participate in an event like this is discouraging. It appears at least some of your members are not fully aware of their responsibilities under the Code, or the negative effect that formula promotion has on infant health. I respectfully ask that you affirm your support for the Code and infant health, and consider letting Owennie Lee and Nestlé know that the College of Dietitians views her participation in this event as a breach of CDBC's Code of Ethics.

Sincerely,
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Here's the text from the event invitation:

You are cordially invited to attend
The Infant Feeding Maze
Presented by Owennie Lee, Registered Dietitian

6/2/2008

Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Hilton Metrotown (Waterford Room)
6083 McKay Avenue, Burnaby
Reception & Cocktails6:00 pm
Dinner & Presentation7:00-8:30 pm
Question & Answer to Follow

Please RSVP to Owennie Lee by Monday, June 2, 2008 at 1-(800) 563-7853 ext.7066 or owennie.lee@ca.nestle.com. Please indicate menu choice (chicken, fish or vegetarian) and kindly note any food allergies.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Describe the benefits of breastfeeding
- Identify the main categories of infant formula and their indications for use
- Identify some common infant feeding concerns and their course of treatment
- Explain the difference between food allergy and food intolerance
- Analyze some common situations and apply infant feeding recommendations

This workshop is approved for 1.25 CE credits by the Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy, CCEP # 299-0805LI

(Nestle Nutrition logo here)
 
#5 ·
Quote:
This workshop is approved for 1.25 CE credits by the Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy, CCEP # 299-0805LI
Maybe de-credentialing these unethical workshops would help to put a stop to them?
 
#6 ·
Janice, is there really a 95% breastfeeding rate in BC? (initiation, I'm guessing). That's great! Ds was born here in BC and we had a lot of support, though we were still unsuccessful. I was at a toddler group the other day and three out of the four moms there nursed their 6+ month babies in front of me
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top