Page 4-Saturday, February 24, 1979-The Michigan Daily

Nestles boycott draws attention to abuses

Can a product which requires clean water,
good sanitation, adequate family income and
a literate parent to follow printed instructions
I be properly and safely used in areas where
water is contaminated, sewage runs in the
streets, poverty is severe and illiteracy is
high? ... When economic incentives are in
conflict with public health requirements how
shall that conflict be resolved? Is it enough to
establish a code for product use and disown
or turn away from the realities of product.
use?"
Senator Edward Kennedy,
Chairperson
U.S. Senate Hearings, May 23, 1978
With the largest non-union boycott
in U.S. history, Americans have an-
swered Senator Kennedy's questions
about artificial infant milk promotion
in developing countries.
The Nestle Boycott has spread world-
wide as citizens protest death and
disease linked to unethical infant for-
mula promotion. Infant-feeding
authority, Dr. Derrick Jelliffe, UCLA
nutritionist and former director of the
,Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute
estimates that over 10 million infants
annually suffer malnutrition, disease or
ideath because they are bottle-fed in-
stead of breast-fed. And multinational
corporations such as Nestle, Ab-
bott/Ross Labs, American Home
Products and Bristol-Myers contribute
significantly to that problem by in-
discriminately promoting the use of
milk formula products to mothers who
could breast feed.
In Singapore, where corporate
promotion is intense, breastfeeding
.rates among poor families have plum-
meted from 71% in 1951 to 5% in 1971.
Trends are similar throughout the
developing world. The cost in lives is

enormous. Studies in Chile, for exam-
ple, show death rates 2 to 3 times higher
for bottle-fed infants than for breast-fed
babies. And as formula feeding rises,
the average age for the onset of infant,
malnutrition has dropped from 18 mon-
ths to eight.
A 1978 WORLD Health Organization
reports explains why:
The probablility of mothers having access
to clean water is tow. . . and preparation of
formulas will almost inevitably lend itself to
contamination . . . (M)others who become
dependent upon breastmilk substitutes are of-
ten unable to purchase the quantity of com-
mercially-prepared products that would be
needed... Over-dilution of what little can be
afforded is a well-known solution turned to
by many mothers . . Its results are disastrous
for the health of the child...
Medical authorities agree that par-
ticularly in Third World countries the
best food a mother can provide comes
from her own breast. Significant
psychological, anti-infective and con-
traceptive benefits also come from
breastfeeding. When this natural
method is replaced by artificial for-
mula without the possibility of safe
preparation, the infant's life is en-
dangered.
CORPORATE PROMOTION
But skyrocketing birthrates and high
profit margins have prodded
multinational corporations to expand
Third World formula sales. Billboards,
newspaper ads, baby shows and radio
advertising broadcast the misleading
message, as in a 1978 Nestle newspaper
ad: "Help Your Baby Grow Healthy
and Happy. Give Him Lactogen With
Honey..: . So Easy to prepare."
-Health professionals get the same

By the Infant Formula Action Coalition
message. Nestle and the other formula ples, milk, nurses tell them to use it
companies supply free samples and and soon their breast milk dries up. A
slick medical literature to hospitals and consumer is born.
clinics, along with medical equipment, PROFESSOR JAMES Post of Boston

'Professor James Post of Boston University esti-
mates that by 1980 the developing world will be
spending more than $1 billion annually for infant
formula; more than the World Bank loaned to all
the nations of Latin America in 1974.'

. FIGHTING BACK
Outraged at the destruction caused
by such immoral profit-seeking, health
professionals, student, church and
women's groups and Third World ac-
tivists have united in a campaign to
bring this issue to public attention. The
Infant Formula Action Coalition
(INFACT), working with the Interfaith
Center on Corporate Responsibility, Clergy
and Laity Concerned- and other
organizations, has mobilized to halt the
unethical promotion of infant formula
by multinational corporations.
The Nestle Boycott, as a major
strategy against the world's largest
seller of infant formula, is pressuring
U.S. subsidiaries of that company in
order to affect Nestle headquarters in
Switzerland. Hundreds of groups are
actively organizing the Boycott across
the U.S. and over 200 concerned in-
dividuals and institutions have of-
ficially endorsed the Boycott. As a
result, Nestle is receiving thousands of
letters each month protesting unethical
promotion methods.
THE AMERICAN formula com-
panies are also a focus of attention. Sin-
ce 1974, they have been hit with church
shareholder resolutions, lawsuits and
federal legislation. But as a foreign
company with no stock sales in the U.S.,
Nestle remains immune to these
methods.
The infant formula campaign has
sprad to Canada, West Germany, Swit-
zerland, Norway, Sweden, England and
Japan, as well as many developing
countries. INFACT groups and suppor-
ters there have begun campaigns to
restrict promotion on national soil, with

growing success. Some Third World
governments have initiated breast
feeding campaigns to counteract cor-
porate promotion. The U.S. Senate held
hearings on the issue and the World
Health Organization will sponsor a
meeting in October of this year.
But educational efforts and regulatory
initiatives such as these can succeed
only 'if public outcry maintains
pressure on Nestle and U.S. formula
companies. The tragic results of "baby
bottle disease" in developing countries
cannot be stopped until what is healthy
for corporate profits is replaced by
what is healthy for infants of all
nations.
In the words of Dr. Samuel J. Fomon
of Iowa University, Vice President for
the 12th International Congress on
Nutrition:
In developing countries babies who
are not breastfed die. Contaminated
water, poor hygiene, lack of
refrigeration and poverty, causing
formulas to be "stretched" to
nutritional impotency, make:, safe
preparation virtually impossible. It's
hard enough for these babies to survive
under the best circumstances; ex-
ploitative marketing and merchan-
dising is tantamount to mass infan-
ticide.
.0
This article, written by the
national INFA CT office, was sub-
mitted by Tom Hayes for the
organization's local chapter. Per-
sons interested in the infant formula
promotion problem and the current
effort to have- the University honor
the boycott should call 663-1870.


funds for medical conferences and par-
ties, and even kick-backs to doctors.
Another common and uncontrolled
practice is the-use of "milk nurses,"
uniformed nurses hired by companies
to push infant formula.
By "courting" doctors with lavish gifts
and attention, companies win their im-
plicit endorsement of formula feeding.
Mothers leave hospitals with free sam-

University estimates that by 1980 the
developing world will be spending more
than $1 billion annually for infant for-
mula; more than the World Bank
loaned to all the nations of Latin
America in 1974. The profits are
staggering: Brazilian figures show
retail margins of 72%, three times the
rate of average products. Meanwhile,
babies die.

I -

Health Service Handbook-Gail Ryan
Catch rays but keep skin healthy

t b 3tcbgan taiIQ
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Eighty-Nine Years of Editorial Freedom

Vol. IXXXIX, No. 122+

News Phone: 764-0552

Edited and managed by students at the Uhiversity of Michigan



City concede!
put pricet
C ITY COUNCIL has recognized its
responsibility to preserve the
city's historical character and coor-
dinate city planning, by stepping in
with funds to preserve the Michigan
Theater.
The theater's present owner is W. S.
Butterfield, Inc., has announced that it
will not renew its present lease on the
51-year-old structure when it expires
next month.
Since that announcement was made,
several private investors have offered
to take over th'e lease with intentions of
converting the theater into a "mini-
mall."
A group of local citizens joined for-
ces and sought the support of Mayor
Louis Belcher to keep the unique lan-
dmark as it is now. Community theater
and performance groups were asked to
step in and buy the lease, but they had
to refuse because they lacked the funds
necessary to outbid the commercial
investors.
But earlier this month Council
finally stepped in and endorsed a
proposal to form a non-profit cor-
poration which would buy and rent out
the theater. The city appropriated
$2,000 from its general fund for the
initial legal and administrative fees
necessary to secure the deal. Once the

sitcan 't
on history
corporation is established, Council
does not expect to make any further
financial contributions to the project.
A five-member committee was for-
med, which will be responsible for
negotiating the sale through the
Swisher Realty Co.
In the case of*the Michigan Theater,
the city's supportive role is entirely
correct. The old vaudeville house is
certainly one of the city's most
valuable historic buildings.
Buildings like the Michigan Theater,
cannot be replaced. Mini-malls,
however, are more easily affordable
these days.
The city's preservation of the theater
is also in keeping with its policy of
revitalization. In order to make down-
town business viable, the city must of-
fer more than the suburban malls and
shopping centers. The Michigan
Theater is just such a draw.
The city's action in this case ex-
emplifies the proper course in
establishing some sort of planning for
the city. Ann Arbor as a whole has too
often suffered from hasty, patchwork
solutions to the city's problems. As a
result, irreplaceable and viable struc-
tures such as the Michigan Theater
have fallen in the wake of costly, un-
necessary new buildings.

QUESTION: I am going to
Florida over spring break and
am concerned about all the sun
I will be getting (skin cancer).
Do you know which suntan
lotions protect against harmful
rays but still allow you to get a
tan? (One of the things I like
most about going to Florida is
that I can get back my summer
tan.)
ANSWER: First of all, you
are wise in being concerned
about the harmful effects of the
sun. Although you may hear the
comment "Look at that healthy
tan" quite a bit, scientists have
discovered that the tan is not so
healthy after all. Excessive ex-
posure to the sun's ultraviolet
rays over a period of years may
cause premature aging of the
skin or skin cancer. According
to the American Cancer
Society, almost all of the 300,000
or more cases of skin cancer
each year are sun-related.
(Fortunately, if these are
treated in time they are
curable). It is true that the sun

helps our bodies produce
Vitamin D (but a well-balanced
diet or milk with Vitamin D ad-
ded will achieve the same
result) and helps some persons
with asthma, aching joints, ac-
ne, or psoriasis, but for most of
us, the sun's benefits are
mainly psychological.
According to an expert panel
recently appointed by the U.S.
Food and Drug'Administration
(FDA), persons who should be
extra cautious about exposure
to the sun are those of Northern
European descent, with light
eyes and skin, and who live in
sunny climates. Those who
work outside, such as farmers,
construction workers, and even
truckers (with that left arm out,
the window) should also be ex-
tra cautious. Certain
medications, such as some an-
tibiotics, prescription acne
medications, barbiturates, and
birth control pills may make the
skin more susceptible to bur-
ning.
Some suggestions offered by
the American Cancer Society

and the FDA are:
* Avoid being in the sun bet-
ween the hours of 10 a.m. and 2
p.m., when the sun's rays are
strongest;
- Use a sunscreen product,
which screens out the harmful
ultraviolet rays but allows for
gradual tanning. Not all suntan
lotions have the screening
properties-be sure to read the
ingredients on the label. An
FDA panel recently did a study,
and found most of the
ingredients on the market to be
safe and effective. A popular
one is called PABA. The ones
NOT recommended are (are
you ready?):
2-Ethyihexyl
4- phenylbenzophenone-2'-car-
bolic acid
3-(4-Methylbenzylidene)-
camphor
Sodium 3,4-dimethylphenyl-
glyoxylate
Proper use of the sunscreen is
very important.. It should be
applied 45 minutes prior to ex-
posure to the sun, and should be
reapplied after swimming or

excessive sweating. No matter
what, it won't last all day -
reapply a couple of times. Even
with a screen, a good general
sun tanning program is 15
minutes the first day, and 5
minutes more each day thereaf-
ter.
* Use a sunblock (it allows no
tanning at all) for highly sen-
sitive areas, such as lips, nose,
or already burned areas. Zinc
oxide is a well known sunblock;
* Cool, loose-fitting beach
robes, caftans, r long-sleeved
shirts and wide-brimmed hats
offer effective protection;
" You are not fully protected
in the shade of a beach um-
brella because ultraviolet rays
may be deflected off the sand,
water, deck,etc.;
*'Seventy to 80 per cent of the
ultraviolet rays also penetrate
clouds and water;
" You're better off moving
around than lying immobile.
* Sun reflectors expose the
most delicate facial areas
(eyelids, earlobes, 'lips, under
the chin)-so avoid using them.


THIS NEW TEST
WILL MEASURE
TE SUBJECT'S
AITUD
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AT W14Ar
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TAKING
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Letters
Wornen athletes allege discrirnination


_

THE MILWAUKEE .JOURAcAL

To the Daily:
We would like to bring to your
attention a serious problem of
discrimination that is going on
within the athletic department of
the University of Michigan. We
are frustrated members of the
Women's Track Team because of
the lack of cooperation we have
received from the athletic depar-
tment.
I: Present situation that needs
immediate correction
We are in the midst of our in-
door track season but we are
being denied our rightful priority
to utilize the indoor track at the
Track and Tennis Building.
Recently the Men's Baseball
Team has taken the liberty of
using the Track and Tennis
Building at times not allotted to
them. In a recent memorandum

given priority over the Baseball
Team, we should have the right to
use the track.
The Baseball Team has refused
to recognize our priority and con-
tinues to create a dangerous
situation as they practice their
ball throwing on the track. Our
practice has been interrupted
repeatedly by uncaught balls, by
baseball players occupying our
running lanes, and by the general
distraction and fear caused by
flying baseballs.
Clearly we have the right to the
sole use of the track at
2:00 to 3:00 on Tuesdays
and Thursdays. We have ex-
plained our situation to the
baseball , players and to their
coach, Moby Benedict, countless
times. The players have ignored
us and Benedict refuses to

entering the territory the
Baseball Team had established
over the past fifteen years. This
was Lund's rationale for allowing
the Baseball Team to overstep its
priority. When asked if the
"frustration" was a justifiable
reason to take priority away from
the Track Team Lund replied,
"No, but that's the way it is."
This clearly shows that the Men's
Baseball Team is being given
special treatment while the
Women's Track Team is having
to take a back seat in the athletic
program of the University of
Michigan. This is a deplorable
show of discrimination at such a
respectable univerity.
II. Past problems that need immediate
attention for correction
This is not the first time the
Women's Track Team has had to

other instances of discrimination.
At the beginning of the indoor
track season the Men's Track
Team, after making us agree toy'
practice at our specified time,
continued to run during our time
as well as during its own. Even
the Football Team, whose entire
season is completed for this year,
has priority over the Track Team
for the use of the track.
We are tired of being pushed
around, moved out and
discriminated against. This
situation is legally and morally"
wrong. It is legally wrong
because Title IX states, "no per-,
son in the United States shall, on
the basis of ,sex, be excluded
from participation in, be denied'-
the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any
education program or activity

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