Nestlé Philippines welcomes information relating to Code implementation. In the past, there has been a great deal of misinformation about Nestlé's Code compliance. Information should be sent to Nestlé Philippines and to the Inter-Agency Committee so that the necessary action can be taken. Although Nestlé Philippines has never received any written allegations directly, the company has investigated allegations made in campaign materials from organisations which contend that Nestlé purposefully violates the Code. The following are the most common allegations which, after investigation, were found to be untrue:

Myth: Nestlé uses direct marketing to promote infant formula to mothers in the Philippines.

Reality: Nestlé does use direct marketing on a range of consumer products, but does not use it to promote infant formula. Nestlé has a health & nutrition programme for women, starting in pregnancy, and extending through early motherhood. It does not contain infant formula product information.

Myth: Nestlé threatened to pull its advertising from a TV station that was questioning the company's marketing of breast-milk substitutes.

Reality: This allegation, more than 15 years old, is not true. There was no memo from Nestlé or its advertising agency to the TV station; nor was the program's host reprimanded, as alleged by the lobby group. In fact, Nestlé increased its expenditure for advertising of Nescafé and other products with the station.

Myth: Nestlé Philippines employed graduate nurses as "health educators" visiting mothers to give gifts and promote infant formula. A photo of these "health educators" was taken while they were promoting infant formula to mothers in the community.

Reality: The lobby group Baby Milk Action published a photo of a young woman standing next to a woman with children, claiming that it showed Nestlé employees visiting mothers to promote breast-milk substitutes. This is not true. Our internal rules state very clearly that Nestlé staff are not permitted to make direct contact with mothers to promote infant formula. Nestlé Philippines continually reminds its employees that they must adhere to the Code, and that disciplinary action will be taken if violations occur.

Nestlé recently wrote to Baby Milk Action asking for further details and substantiation of this allegation, but this has not yet been provided. Baby Milk Action's failure to provide adequate details to the relevant authorities (the Inter-Agency Committee) and Nestlé Philippines prevents Nestlé and the Government from taking further action on an allegation we believe is not true. Nestlé still welcomes detailed evidence if, in fact, any exists.

Myth: Nestlé Philippines violates the Code in its marketing of Complementary Foods.

Reality: The Philippine Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, which has the status and effect of legislation, makes a clear distinction between breast-milk substitute products and complementary foods. Nestlé markets infant cereals as complementary food, starting from 4-6 months of age. This adheres both to the Philippine Code and to official WHO Infant Feeding Recommendations. Therefore restrictions on marketing of breast-milk substitutes do not apply to cereals.

In February 1999, the Philippine Department of Health, responded to our request for an assessment on the compliance of Nestlé Philippines with the Code. The Department responded:
"We have been regularly conducting spot checks and investigations in the field and distribution areas throughout the country. In recent years, there were only few violations reported to this Office. Nestle Philippines is one of the companies which has consistently cooperated with us in the observance of the Code."

If you have any information regarding implementation of the Code in The Philippines, please write to both Nestlé Philippines and the Inter-Agency Committee:

Nestlé Philippines
335 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue,
PH - Makati City
The Inter-Agency Committee
Department of Health,
San Lazaro Hospital Compound,
Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz Manila