Questions over ices contract (Bmth Echo)

For the evidence see:
http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com

Questions over ices contract
By Lynn Morris

CAMPAIGN: Cllr LIsa Northover, who is angry about Nestle products being sold in seafront ice cream kiosks
BOURNEMOUTH councillors are to review a contract allowing the exclusive supply of Nestle ice cream in seafront kiosks after confusion over a council motion to boycott the company.

Councillor and anti-Nestle campaigner Lisa Northover was shocked when Bournemouth council awarded a contract allowing the exclusive supply of Nestle ice cream in five seafront kiosks, contrary to a motion adopted in 1994 endorsing the boycott of Nestle products because of the company's policy of supplying free and low cost baby milk formula in contravention of the World Health Organisation's code.

Cllr Northover, 30, said: "I have been boycotting Nestle since I was about 13 because of the marketing techniques they use to push baby milk formula which are against the recommendations for formula milk marketing."

She works with Baby Milk Action, a group, which helps to co-ordinate the international campaign for a Nestle boycott.

Cllr Northover wrote to all councillors asking for the decision to be reconsidered and brought to a scrutiny committee.

She said: "I do not feel that Bournemouth should be associating itself at all with a company with such a poor record, let alone doing an exclusive deal."

She said she was shocked when she saw that the council had signed a three year contract with Hunts Food Service to supply the kiosks with just Nestle ice cream. The contract has an option for a two year extension.

Officers recommended that the leisure services department accept the Nestle products only deal because it was the most financially beneficial.

A spokesman for the council said that there was a cooling off period in the contract so the council could revoke the decision.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for economy and tourism, said: "By 1997 both the General Synod of the Church of England and the Royal College of Midwives Council had lifted their boycott of Nestle. It could be unreasonable of Bournemouth to continue the boycott some 10 years later."

He added that he was encouraging Cllr Northover to bring the issue before a scrutiny panel.

A statement from Nestle said that the company now adopts the World Health Organisation code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes as a minimum standard in developing countries.

A report by charity Save the Children this month called on companies, including Nestle, to stop aggressively market-ing formula baby milk.

7:00pm Friday 1st June 2007