Disregard for international ban on marketing unhealthy products

Violations of the international ban on promotion of baby milk include: supplying free baby milk to hospitals and sending mothers home with a sample, giving away baby milk supplies, printing labels in languages not understood by the mother. advertizing to mothers in hospital, paying or giving gifts to health workers, advertizing whole milk powder for newborns, although it is not safe for them, and promoting follow-on milk for babies when they are too young for it.

Corporate greed encourages these violations. The milk is expensive, and can cost half the family income in some societies.

The WHO and UNICEF banned all forms of promotion of baby milk. Nestle, the world's largest food company, didn't comply. An international boycott of Nestle products was organized, and then suspended in 1984 on the promise of compliance. The boycott was reintroduced in 1988 when the company reneged on its promise. As of 1994, Nestle admitted that its baby milk supplies are harmful, but will not stop distributing them unless local governments legislate.