Church Group Supports Nestle Boycott

Delegates representing the Metro Boston Association of the United Church of Christ voted yesterday to endorse the nation-wide boycott of Nestle Corporation products by a margin of 53-40.

Lois Happe, a delegate who presented the case for support of the boycott, said public participation was necessary to ensure that Nestle stops promotion of infant formula in developing countries.

Supporters of the boycott claim Nestle's promotional practices cause mothers to stop breast-feeding their babies and to switch to formula they may not need.

Danger

Happe, who was instrumental in organizing the Boston Infant Formula Action Coalition, said inadequate refrigeration and contaminated water in underdeveloped countries make the use of the formula dangerous. Mothers in these areas often have insufficient income to buy enough formula to feed their babies properly, Happe added.

The governing board of the National Council of Churches decided over the weekend to support the boycott, with only two dissenting votes from the 250 delegates.

Dr. Michael Lathan of Cornell University testified to the board that there could be no doubt bottle-feeding is a major cause of infant mortality. Lathan said Nestle has taken some measures, but added that they are "small steps when giant strides are needed."

Call the Doc

Douglas Gromer, a spokesman for Nestle Corporation, said yesterday Nestle has suspended direct advertising in all markets, but refuses to cease promotion among medical personnel. "We feel doctors are the appropriate link. They're sufficiently educated to know both sides of the issue," Gromer said.

Although Nestle claims that declining infant mortality in developing countries coincides with the introduction of infant formula, Lathan said the formula has little to do with the decline.

While shareholder resolutions have challenged American infant formula companies, such as Bristol-Myers and Abbott, Nestle, which is the world's largest producer of formula, is an international corporation based in Switzerland and does not sell stock in America.

Long Arm of the Law

The World Health Organization will soon sponsor a conference on the infant formula issue which was proposed last July by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D-Mass.).

Nestle Corporation favors the conference as the most appropriate way to discuss the issue. "The responsibility must be shared by the government, citizens, corporate officials and medical agencies," Gromer said.

Cloak and Dagger

"They change their stance every other week. This time it's the shared responsibility bit," Happe said. "If this thing isn't politicized, there will not be enough pressure on Nestle to take the appropriate steps."

One United Church delegate who spoke in favor of the boycott added. "No one will find giving up Nestle's Crunch Bars more difficult than me."