Open Letter to Director PAHO/WHO

 

Open Letter To: Mirta Roses Periago, Director, The Pan American Health Office
                       Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization

Dear Ms. Periago,

I was deeply disheartened to learn that your organization has accepted a $150,000 contribution from Nestlé, 1 the major violator of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.2

First of all, your alliance with Nestlé is a direct contradiction to your own Mission Statement : "To lead strategic collaborative efforts among Member States and other partners to promote equity in health, to combat disease, and to improve the quality of, and lengthen, the lives of the peoples of the Americas."3  I contend that Nestlé is a major contributor to inequity of health by their predatory marketing practices.4
Also, they increase world-wide disease by methodically sabotaging breastfeeding efforts which can only result in the quality and length of lives being greatly diminished, not improved.  

This absurd affiliation can be further clarified by referring to your very own Health Agenda for the Americas 2007-2017 which states, "In accordance with the quest for equity, the Health Authority should prioritize and emphasize specific actions to reduce maternal, neonatal, and child mortality in all segments of society. Breastfeeding should be promoted, and actions taken to prevent infections, dehydration, respiratory diseases, and malnutrition and obesity among children as part of the problems of childhood nutrition."5   One must ask why an organization who publishes the above statement would align themselves with Nestlé, the largest purveyor of infant formula and junk food on the planet, infamously boycotted for their callous, aggressive marketing tactics.6

In addition, Nestlé products for babies and children are made from modified cow’s milk, genetically engineered soy, high-fructose corn syrup, added sugars, a variety of fats (palm, soybean and coconut oils), plus a long list of chemicals to adjust nutrient levels and enhance product appearance. Bottlefeeding artificial baby milks often leads to large volume, parent-controlled meals leading to overfeeding which contributes to childhood obesity in the Americas.7

Also, I noticed on your website the PAHO Core Values which include, "Integrity - Assuring transparent, ethical, and accountable performance".8  Accepting funds from Nestlé is far from honorable. Instead, it clearly demonstrates the grave conflict of interest that exists between health organizations and the junk food industry. Not to mention, a clear and all too common, example of Nestlé’s false benevolence.

Furthermore, this action proclaims a blatant breach of trust with the very mothers and children you protect, not to mention, the health advocates, such as myself, who have devoted their lives tirelessly to promoting the WHO International Code for Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes.

 

Lastly, linking with Nestlé seriously undermines the credibility of your organization and WHO as a whole. WHO is known as the global guardian for public health. When your organization accepts money from Nestlé, it sets a bad precedent and the wrong tone for the future. Many rely on WHO for protection from industry self-interest, do you want the legacy of opening that predacious door?

I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to accept Nestlé funding, in turn reaffirming your commitment to the WHO Code and those it protects. I implore you to join WHO and publicly call for Nestlé executives to end their unethical promotion of infant formula and unhealthy foods and to stop lobbying against regulations that safeguard global health.

 

Sincerely,
Maria Parlapiano RN IBCLC
Chatham, NJ

 

1. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/19/us-obesity-who-industry-idUSBRE89I0K620121019
2. http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf.
3. http://new.paho.org/usa/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=163
4. www.babymilkaction.org
5. www.paho.org/english/gov/ce/od328-strategy-e.pdf
6. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303592404577361070078
7. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1316395/Baby-milk-formula-make-child-obese-5.html
8. http://new.paho.org/usa/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=163

WHO the Heck, Did What?!

You're probably thinking- Not again! Didn't Maria just finish a similar campaign?!http://www.mothering.com/community/a/newark-and-nestl-partnership-there-s-nothing-sweet-about-it
Now I know what Michael Corleone from the Godfather meant when he said,
 "Just when I thought I was out....they keep pulling me back in." -Lol

 

Around the world, civic and non-profit organizations have been gloming "donated" Nestle money,
 like kids in a candy shop! http://newarknj.patch.com/articles/new-pilot-program-will-target-childhood-obesity-in-newark

Ironic, right? That money "earmarked for healthy causes" actually comes from Nestle - the worlds biggest "candy shop"!  Add to that, the fact that Nestle is the  largest manufacturer of processed, high-fat foods and high-calorie beverages including their infamous infant formula and baby food products.  I would also be amiss not to mention their notorious bottled water business- saving that for a future blog.  www.bottledlifefilm.com/index.php/home-en.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303592404577361070078138812.html

Complacency surrounding this issue runs rampid which I will never get used to.  But more disturbing is the warm embrace Nestle receives from the the very programs and  organizations that are working tirelessly to reverse the damage that Nestle itself causes to our population and planet! 

By now, many of us who follow the trail of chocolate wrappers one by one, are rarely surprised.  False benevolence is one of Nestle's trademark tactics. Eying the long list of names of those who fall prey via gifts, donations, sponsorships, scholarships, interships, partnerships, research, promotions and educational conferences is merely a daily routine now.

But recently, even I- Ms.Cynical herself, was literally shaken to the core when news broke that PACH/WHO accepted $150,000 from Nestle to fight obesity and non-communicable diseases!   I almost choked on my Hot Pocket - NOT!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/19/us-obesity-who-industry-idUSBRE89I0K620121019

Akin to Eve's partaking of the forbidden fruit, are we to believe that WHO may now fall from grace?  Just like the others- corruptible?

If so, then who can we trust if we can't trust WHO anymore- (can't believe I just wrote that!)  Historically they were our "agents" for global health concerns and guidance.
 
Even with their attempt to guard us from commercial exploitation and promote, support and protect breastfeeding via the Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes -it appears they have now allowed political and financial pressure to trump reason and responsibility. 

http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf      also see  http://nwica.org/sites/default/files/WHO%20Code%20Breastfeeding.pdf

Perhaps we overestimated the power and ability of WHO to protect us from harm, as well as police itself and resist temptation from corporate parias like Nestle.

Perhaps WHO underestimated their own need for self-monitoring, as well as, our need for urgency and stewardship when our health is threatened by Nestle and other global food giants.

These are shortfalls that may likely haunt us for years to come.

Starting now, there will be a vast effort put forth by breastfeeding and child health advocates in an all-out, grass-roots, multi-media campaign to inform, educate and act to empower change and flip this situation to our advantage.

Our goal is to influence PAHO/WHO to the extent that they will reverse their decision and mis-align themselves with Nestle.

But we need your help to mobilize this campaign to the largest scale possible so
PAHO/WHO hears us LOUD &CLEAR! Cause, trust me, Nestle is always listening.........:(

Join & Share Friends of the WHO Code Today !https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/friendsofthewhocode/

Sign the petition today!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/569/157/115/urge-the-world-health-organization-to-cut-ties-with-nestle-our-mothers-and-babies-are-worth-it/

Open Letter to Director of PAHO/WHO-
http://wwmdwhatwouldmariado.blogspot.com/2012/11/open-letter-to-director-pahowho.html