THE COMPLEAT MOTHER NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 1999 ********************************** “I will not live by ordinary standards. I will not run with the pack. I will not be chained into a routine of living which is the same for others. I will not look to the ground and move on the ground with the rest so long as there are those mountaintops, and clouds, and limitless space.” Nicholas Van Ryn (Vincent Price), Dragonwyck ******************************************* I am enflamed. Two days ago a booklet was delivered to our house from Nestle’s Carnation Baby Formulas. IT WAS MAILED TO MY DAUGHTER, KATY BETH, WHO IS 12 YEARS OLD!! I’m not saying that the Nestle Company knew they were mailing to a 12 year old girl. Could they be that devious? But this goes to show just how incredibly pervasive their advertising can be (and how did Katy Beth get on a mailing list?). THE BOOKLET: 10 pages long from Nestle/Carnation. It’s called “The Very Best nutrition guide.” They are promoting their new FREE magazine to the world. On the cover is the cutest little infant you EVER did see. Subtitled is “4 great formula choices for your baby’s first year” and in small print at the bottom their website address: www.carnationbaby.com Inside the cover are three coupons which offer $1.00 savings on their Baby Formula. Next page another adorable infant. On the third page is a token and obligatory few paragraphs on breastfeeding They say, “Breastmilk is the most nutritionaly complete food your baby will ever eat, which is why experts recommend it.” But wait! Here comes the heavy bombardment! “But if you choose to use formula after talking with your doctor, there’s no reason to feel guilty about it. Iron-fortified formula is the next best choice to breastmilk and offers a complete source of nutrition for your baby during her first year.” (what about boys??) Thereafter follow a full seven pages of ads for their formula product. Let’s do the math; nine pages for formula, one page for Breastfeeding. They've justified themselves, so to speak. Now I ask you, dear friends, is this supposed to mollify us? Does Nestle think we are a bunch of stupid, head-nodding nincompoops? I beg to differ!!! If you feel like making a small difference in the world call their BABYLine toll-free phone: 1-800-659-6395 (I could not find their email address anywhere on Nestle’s sites); you will probably be put on hold due to “overwhelming response.” Just set the phone down; check back in a few minutes. Hey, it’s not my fault that so many people are calling them and running up astronomical phone bills, is it? If you do get through, give them a piece of your mind! Catherine Young (the founder and owner of TCM) just sent this email to me at my request: “I was raised on Carnation milk and corn syrup, along with 60% of the baby boomer generation. Because of Nestle, we are myopic in vision, often diabetic, tend to obesity, addictive in personality, given to hypoglycemia and heart disease. Reason enough to scorn, but we really shun them because of their aggressive formula marketing techniques in developing countries, and their flagrant violation of the WHO code at home and abroad.” -Catherine For years Catherine and Jody have run stories about the Nestle (a/k/a Nastie)company which in addition to fine chocolate also makes Carnation baby formula. The World Health Organisation and UNICEF drew up the “International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes” because “one and a half million babies die every year because they are not breastfed. Millions more become ill. What makes a woman believe she cannot breastfeed her baby is the constant undermining of her confidence by ADVERTISING.” Nestle violates “The Code” around the world by aggressive advertising and delivering formula samples to new mothers. The Compleat Mother has very strongly urged its subscribers to boycott Nestle and to promote breastfeeding. This includes all of Nestle’s products: Nestle Quick, Taster’s Choice, Carnation Evaporated Milk, Nestea, Nescafe Coffee, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Butterfinger, Nestle Crunch and anything with Nestle’s name. ******************************************** WHAT’S NEW AT COMPLEAT MOTHER ON-LINE? ******************************************** 1.Reynaud's Syndrome 2.Read about the "Who Code" 3.Formula Companies Beware!  (an angry woman vents)   www.compleatmother.com/breastfeeding.htm Positive Hospital Birth  www.compleatmother.com/litters2.htm Please Don't Circumcise! (a real letter from an anonymous nurse) www.compleatmother.com/circ.htm Yeast Invasion  (that baddie THRUSH) www.compleatmother.com/articles.htm My Anti-Vaccine Passion (by Jan Tritton, editor: Midwifery Today magazine) www.compleatmother.com/articles.htm 1. Don't Drink Your Milk! (Is cow's milk really good for your?) 2. Whooping  Cough or Asthma? www.compleatmother.com/offtheline.htm    1. Pregnancy Rib Ticklers 2. Recipe for Bruce Stroganoff www.compleatmother.com/eternally_pregnant.htm 1. DPT Victim 2. A New Spirit! 3. Pitocin Problem www.compleatmother.com/litters2.htm Tea Talk  (Catherine offers great Tea!) www.compleatmother.com/tea_company.htm New Site Search Engine      Main Page (it’s down toward the bottom) www.compleatmother.com Niagara Falls Woman Wins Booby Prize  Once in awhile stuff comes across my desk that editors dream about. Catherine, why don't you say what you really mean! ;-) www.compleatmother.com/litters2.htm Hepatitis B Vaccine Risks Criticism of this vaccine grows. Read about one doctor who's not so sure about the way it is administered. www.compleatmother.com/offtheline.htm ************************************ Catherine, Jody and I need a long vacation in the Bahamas so.......SUBSCRIBE! ;-) www.compleatmother.com/subscriptions.htm Back again next month! greg c.