Nestlé own many brands and products, from breakfast cereals to bottled water. They’re perhaps best known for their coffee, and they also have a wide range of confectionery which includes the “accidentally vegan” Jelly Tots. However, the deeply unethical behaviour of Nestle towards humans and animals makes it difficult to consider any of their items suitable for vegans. Indeed, they are the target of a global consumer boycott that has run for four decades.
One of the many products sold under the Nestlé umbrella is baby milk formula (including the SMA brand), and this is at the root of the boycott. Nestle have been criticised repeatedly for promoting baby formula in developing countries, often using aggressive and unethical marketing ploys. These include bribing hospital staff to promote free formula milk to nursing mothers while they are still in hospital. In the vulnerable hours after giving birth, women depend on sound medical advice; if they are told that a Western product is best for their baby, and are offered it for free, they are susceptible to accept the offer.