One interesting issue that I found interesting was written about on Jessica Zhang’s UBC blog.

Organizations such as the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) claim that Nestlé’s promotion of formulas over breastfeeding has lead to serious health problems and deaths among infants in less developed countries. Nestlé has been accused of using unethical marketing methods while promoting their infant formula.

The IBFAN claim that the company distributes free formula samples to new mothers in hospitals. Since the supplementation interferes with lactation, the families must continue buying the formula.  According to Jessica Zhang’s blog the formula, which must be mixed with water, is often contaminated due to poor sanitation and results in malnutrition.

As we learned in class, there are three main points that a good manager must do: understand what business they’re in, understand the value proposition and do not take advantage of vulnerable people. This is an example of bad business ethics because Nestlé is taking advantage of vulnerable consumers, which in this case are uneducated new mothers in third world countries.

For more information please visit Jessica Zhang’s UBC blog.

Photo Source: Linda Dias. African American Mother Baby. Science and Sensibility. September 6, 2012. <www.scienceandsensibility.org/?attachment_id=5343 >