North House Votes to Repeal Boycott of Nestle Products

A North House committee voted this week to repeal its boycott of Nestle products, one of a series instituted last year by several Houses and Harvard Student Agencies.

The refusals to buy products of the Nestle Company centered on claims by a Harvard consumer group that Nestle marketed a mother's-milk substitute that caused malnutrition and increased infant mortality in Third World Countries.

Caveat Emptor

The 55-member committee decided at its Monday meeting to reverse its position because Nestle no longer distributes the infant formula, said Chairman James T. Polsfut '83 this week. "The Committee felt that the decision of boycotting the product should be left up to the individual consumer."

Under the boycott, Nestle products were removed from dining halls in the dissenting houses and the Freshman Union. The action affected powered chocolate drink mixes and candy.

In spite of continuing controversy over Nestle's general marketing policies in the Third World, the company's removal of the infant formula cleared the way for return of its products to North House.

Mark G. Kortepeter '83 vice-president of the committee, explained, "There is no reason to continue punishing Nestle if you don't know what the facts are, If someone doesn't want to eat their candy, that's up to them."

Immediately after the repeal, the committee voted to post information on vending machines discussing Nestle's position on selling products in Third World markets "In order to keep the consumers informed, " Polsfut said.