Nestlé faces heat for sponsoring breastmilk substitute study in India
India’s apex medical research authority is calling for the end to a Nestlé sponsored study on breastmilk substitutes, arguing it violates local and international laws on marketing of infant formula.
This content was published on
3 minutes
swissinfo.ch/jdp
The Times of IndiaExternal link reported on Sunday that the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has concluded that Nestlé’s sponsorship of a five-hospital study on infant milk substitutes violates India’s Infant Milk Substitutes ActExternal link.
The law forbids producers or suppliers of breastmilk substitutes from providing financial support to health workers or associations caring for babies or pregnant women including for research.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), responsible for monitoring compliance with the Act, brought the study to the attention of the Indian health ministry and ICMR on July 17. The Clinical Trial Registry lists Nestlé India as the primary sponsor of the study called “Multicentric Observational Study to Observe Growth in Preterm hospitalized infants.”
External Content
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.
In a press releaseExternal link in early August, Arun Gupta of BPNI argued that Nestlé’s actions are “a gross and blatant violation of the IMS Act.” He demanded strict action by the authorities and said the violation amounts to a criminal offence.
According to the Times of India, two other cases of Nestle-sponsored clinical trials were identified on August 26.
Science or promotion?
In a written statement, a Nestlé spokesperson told swissinfo.ch that “Clinical studies for the purpose of scientific information are not prohibited by legislation in India.” The company adds that the law in India only prohibits financial support if it is for the purpose of promoting the use of infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods.
“The objective of the clinical studies in question have been to encourage science-based research. The studies are institution-based studies and all Institutional Ethics Committee approvals have been obtained from the participating sites,” said the spokesperson.
The company also says that no infant formula products were provided to the concerned hospitals, nor were Nestlé products promoted in the hospitals.
Vevey-based Nestlé is a leading manufacturer of infant milk substitutes and infant foods. On its websiteExternal link, the company says they are committedExternal link to comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes “as implemented locally by governments.”
The Nestlé India websiteExternal link says the company complies with Indian law including the provisions on not providing financial incentives to health workers for the purpose of promoting infant milk substitutes.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India pointed the finger at weak enforcement mechanisms in India that have allowed Nestlé to sponsor the studies.
Swiss centre records over 200 victims of human trafficking
This content was published on
Last year 317 people took part in a protection programme run by the Specialist Unit for Trafficking in Women and Women’s Migration (FIZ) in German-speaking Switzerland.
This content was published on
The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and partners are opening a field hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday.
Lack of smartphone sustainability in Switzerland hits environment
This content was published on
Almost half of all Swiss citizens hang on to their old smartphones, tablets and laptops, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Police clear out pro-Palestinian students protesting in Geneva
This content was published on
The police intervened early on Tuesday to dislodge pro-Palestinian students who had been occupying the University of Geneva for almost a week.
New gel developed in Zurich renders alcohol harmless
This content was published on
A newly developed gel composed of whey proteins breaks down alcohol in the body and could reduce its harmful and intoxicating effects in humans.
Pro-Palestine protests extend to Basel and Fribourg universities
This content was published on
Demonstrators called for an academic boycott of all Israeli institutions and disassociation with Chaim Weizmann, the first Israeli president.
This content was published on
In many cases, China's use of AI undermines the national security of the US and its allies, according to a US government representative.
Swiss Hells Angels trial alleges rape and money laundering
This content was published on
An allegedly high-ranking member of the Hells Angels is accused of money laundering totalling millions and rape, among other serious crimes.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Nestlé’s controversial bestseller
This content was published on
Nestlé’s infant formula was developed in the 1800s and went on to become a huge success. But in the 1970s it was the reason the company came under attack. The formula was said to cause infant illness, even death. An international campaign to boycott Nestlé was launched. A Swiss group joined the campaign, going even…
Nestlé to offer blockchain milk tracing system to consumers
This content was published on
The Swiss company has partnered with the OpenSC “blockchain-enabled” digital systemExternal link built by WWF Australia and Boston Consulting Group Digital Ventures to allow anyone in the world to trace data. Consumers can scan a QR code on the product in a shop to check where ingredients were sourced and follow them though the supply…
This content was published on
The Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that it was charging the companies a total of $110 million (CHF102 million) following a four-month antitrust probe. The penalised firms are Mead Johnson Nutrition, Danone, Fonterra, Abbott Laboratories, FrieslandCampina and Biostime International Holdings. In a statement, published on Wednesday, the NDRC said that the fines…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.