Nestle to buy Gerber

[brittone2]

In case anyone is interested. I made a lot of DS's food last time (the little bit he would actually eat LOL), but this time around I guess I"ll be doing it for sure. Earth's Best is currently owned by Gerber, which means it is about to be bought by Nestle as well :(

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=asfpY56UFFj8&refer=home

[SnuggleBuggles]

Darn. Plus, I didn't know that about E.B.. That's what we used last time. I'll have to check in to the pedigree of the other baby foods on the shelf at Whole Foods. We used Healthy Times sometimes last time. I figured this one was going to be lucky to get any special food rather than whatever we were eating just from the beginning of their solid eating. :) Just grind up our dinner and call it a day.

Beth

[MissyAg94]

I am out of the loop about Nestle. Can you bring me up to date?

[juliasmom05]

It tells you how much I know. I didn't even know Gerber was owned by Novartis.

Marci

[jenjenfirenjen]

Are you sure about Gerber owning EB? EB is owned by Hain Celestial and in a quick search I didn't see anything connecting the two.

[kijip]

They market Good Start Formula. In prior years they have been found to be giving women in developing countries (sometimes with questionable water supplies) enough formula to cut off their breastmilk supply and then free vanishes and the babies end up with health problems from not be fed enough or thick enough formula. That is the crux of the matter. Also, formula in areas without clean/safe water is pretty unsafe. There has been an ongoing boycott for much of the last 30 years.

[bostonsmama]

I think there was a thread on MDC recently discussing how they weren't owned by Gerber anymore...but perhaps I need to read more

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=7847197

edit if not allowed

[Piglet]

Not that I am such a fan of formula companies, but is it really such a relevant issue anymore? I mean this was 30 years ago - is it still ongoing? There have been SO many companies that have done bad (sometimes horrible) things a long time ago, but their outlook, management and policies have changed dramatically over time. Some have even gone the other direction and are doing good in the world (again, I am not sure if Nestle has corrected the problem or not).

Just wondering...

[brittone2]

Uh, yeah, IMO still totally relevant. Things may be slightly better, but UNICEF and WHO still haven't found Nestle to be in total compliance with the International Code established regarding marketing practices.

anyway, nak but here are some things regarding Nestle:
eta: http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/breastfeeding/formula-profit.html

http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/article.php?art_id=409&iui=1
http://www.ibfan.org/english/news/press/press00.html

http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/boycott.html

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7266/959

http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g6152d.htm (insufficient amounts of certain nutrients in their formula different than advertised)

http://www.infactcanada.ca/Nestle_Boycott.htm


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0999/is_7266_321/ai_66881273

[brittone2]

Ahhh!! Sorry for the confusion and for not cross checking. I'm very happy that Earth's Best isn't owned by them. Phew :)
eta: I should know better than to try to post things when I've got two kiddos hanging off of me ;)

[ohmommymommy]

>Not that I am such a fan of formula companies, but is it
>really such a relevant issue anymore? I mean this was 30
>years ago - is it still ongoing? There have been SO many
>companies that have done bad (sometimes horrible) things a
>long time ago, but their outlook, management and policies have
>changed dramatically over time. Some have even gone the other
>direction and are doing good in the world (again, I am not
>sure if Nestle has corrected the problem or not).

ITA!

Besides I really love TollHouse Cookies and Nestle Crunch bars.

I even shop regularly at Wal-mart.