Hey, I’ll be honest, I’m sitting at the bottom of a barrel and looking up some awfully steep walls.  Writing my way out of it this week seems impossible.  Instead, I’d like to enlighten any of you who aren’t aware exactly *what* I’m so mad about all the damned time.  I read this article this morning:  https://www.just-food.com/news/nestle-accused-of-double-standards-over-sugar-in-baby-formula-cereals/

And realized I’m particularly sick of a literal evil empire we all universally condone with inaction.  

So, this is the Nestle Corporation, writ large:

1. Infant formula scandal:

In the 1970s, Nestlé began aggressively marketing its infant formula in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. They discouraged breastfeeding and encouraged mothers to switch to formula feeding, even in areas with limited access to clean water and adequate sanitation.

Nestlé was caught giving free samples of infant formula to hospitals and maternity wards…but only so much as to last long enough for the mother’s milk to dry up, as it’s definitely a “use it or lose it” skill.  The company also hired “milk nurses” to visit homes and promote formula feeding, dressed in uniforms resembling those of health care professionals.  

Those unsanitary conditions I mentioned?  Yeah, they led to widespread malnutrition, diarrhea, and infant deaths.  Nestlé prioritized profits over the health and well-being of infants in developing nations.

In 1974, the British charity War on Want published a booklet titled “The Baby Killer,” targeting Nestle’s abuses of the Global South. The report was translated into German with the (much punchier) title “Nestlé Kills Babies.”  Nestle sued for libel and *SOMEHOW* Nestlé won the lawsuit EVEN THOUGH the court ruled that the majority of the allegations against the company were true.  This is akin to if Nuremberg had ended on a technicality.  “You guys sure were Nazis, but you also helped several old ladies across the street in ‘36…so…obviously you’re not *all* bad.”

The controversy led to a widespread boycott of Nestlé products (obviously), which began in the United States in 1977 and spread to other countries.  In response to the growing pressure, Nestlé agreed to abide by the WHO’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in 1981. However, the company has been repeatedly criticized for violating the code and continuing to promote infant formula in ways that undermine breastfeeding.

This entirely disregards the recent news that Nestle has been spiking their infant formula in the developing world with sugar.  I’m sure Nestle has a totally reasonable excuse that several legislators will parrot–and I’m sure it has nothing to do with anonymous or dark moneyed donations.  

2. Child labor and slavery:

Nestlé has been wantonly abusing child labor and literal slavery in its cocoa supply chain, particularly in West African countries like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which together produce about 60% of the world’s cocoa.  Doesn’t that mediocre chocolate bar in your hand seem a fair trade for the literal lives of children?  

In 2001, the US Congress passed the Harkin-Engel Protocol, a voluntary agreement signed by major chocolate companies, including Nestlé, to eradicate child labor in their supply chains. In addition to creating the “Dolphin Safe Sticker” equivalent for child slavery, the protocol laid out a non-binding agreement for the cocoa industry to regulate itself without any legal implications.  This agreement was one of the first times an American industry was subjected to self-regulation and one of the first times self-regulation was used to address an international human rights issue.  How do you think it went?

In 2005, the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) filed a lawsuit against Nestlé and two other chocolate companies in US federal court on behalf of three Malian children who were allegedly trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire and forced to work on cocoa plantations. The suit claimed that the companies aided and abetted human rights violations through their purchase of cocoa from plantations that used child labor. In September 2010, the US District Court for the Central District of California determined corporations cannot be held liable for violations of international law and dismissed the suit.  The case was dismissed by the court in 2016 due to jurisdictional issues.  I’d like you, a *REAL* person to violate international law and tell me if the court finds itself incapable of punishing you.  

In 2011, a BBC investigation found evidence of child labor and trafficking in Nestlé’s supply chain in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The report featured interviews with former child workers who described long working hours, dangerous conditions, and physical abuse.  Almost like letting chocolate producers self-govern with profit as the sole motivator (Fuck you, Jack Welch of GE) isn’t going to move any needle.  

In 2015 (14 years later), the Fair Labor Association (FLA) conducted an assessment of Nestlé’s cocoa supply chain in Côte d’Ivoire and found multiple instances of child labor. The report noted that while Nestlé’s steps to address the issue were minimal, primarily related to “providing education and training programs.”   The root causes of child labor, including poverty and limited access to education, remained significant challenges that Nestle continues to exacerbate and extend via their chocolate reign of terror.  Psssst–the CEO made 11.246 Million, this year, most of it by artificially adjusting their stock prices through deceptive and evil labor and sales practices.

In 2019, a study by the University of Chicago found that over 1.5 million children were engaged in child labor in cocoa-growing areas of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, with many exposed to hazardous conditions such as using sharp tools, carrying heavy loads, and applying pesticides.

In 2021, Nestlé was named in a landmark class-action lawsuit filed in US federal court by eight former child slaves from Mali who alleged that they were forced to work on cocoa plantations in Côte d’Ivoire that supplied the company. The lawsuit accused Nestlé and other chocolate companies of knowingly profiting from the illegal use of child labor.  Which million-dollar legal loophole will this hydra-headed monster escape through, this time?  

Nestlé has “acknowledged the issue of child labor in its supply chain” and has committed to working towards its elimination. The company has implemented various initiatives, such as the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, which aims to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities, and the Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS), which seeks to identify and address cases of child labor.  All of these are internally-managed systems, which we’re aware do not work, with over 20 years of empirical data. None of them manage to address the issue that when Nestle “acknowledges the issue,” the issue they are acknowledging is not child labor itself–merely that you’re hearing about it.

3. Deforestation:

Nestlé has been implicated in deforestation activities related to the production of commodities such as palm oil, cocoa, and pulp and paper in various regions, including Southeast Asia, West Africa, and South America.  They *promise* they feel really, really bad about it.  Would a Japanese Kit-Kat help?  I bet it would.  Have a break from the wilful degradation of the human condition by an evil chocolate producer…I mean, “with Kit-Kat.”  

Palm oil:

Nestlé is a major purchaser of palm oil, which is used in a wide range of its products, from snacks to personal care items. The expansion of palm oil plantations has been a significant driver of deforestation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, which together produce around 85% of the world’s palm oil.

In 2010, Greenpeace launched a campaign targeting Nestlé’s use of palm oil sourced from suppliers linked to deforestation in Indonesia. The environmental group released a report titled “Caught Red-Handed: How Nestlé’s Use of Palm Oil is Having a Devastating Impact on Rainforest, the Climate and Orang-utans,” which accused the company of sourcing palm oil from plantations that were destroying rainforests and peatlands, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Also–and with a great deal more impact–they created a viral video satirizing Nestlé’s Kit Kat commercials.  You may have seen it.  An office worker bites into his mediocre chocolate wafer bar and instead finds he’s munching on a bloody orangutan. The video was viewed over a million times and sparked widespread outrage on social media.

In response to the pressure, Nestlé announced a “zero deforestation” policy in 2010, committing to ensuring that its products do not contribute to deforestation.

Cocoa:

Nestlé has also been linked to deforestation in West Africa, particularly in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which are the world’s largest cocoa producers. The cocoa plantations have cleared vast areas of forest, including protected areas and national parks.  You’d think this much suffering would produce a better product.  

A 2017 investigation by Mighty Earth, a global environmental campaign organization, found that Nestlé and other chocolate companies were sourcing cocoa from protected areas in Côte d’Ivoire, including the Taï National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The report, titled “Chocolate’s Dark Secret,” revealed that around 40% of the cocoa produced in Côte d’Ivoire came from illegally deforested areas.

In response to these findings, Nestlé has “committed to achieving zero deforestation in its cocoa supply chain by 2025.”

Pulp and paper:

Nestlé has been criticized for its use of pulp and paper products sourced from companies linked to deforestation in Southeast Asia and South America. In 2011, Greenpeace accused Nestlé of sourcing pulp and paper from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), an Indonesian company that was allegedly involved in the destruction of rainforests and peatlands in Sumatra.

In response to these allegations, Nestlé announced that “it would stop purchasing pulp and paper from APP and implement stricter sourcing guidelines for its suppliers.”

You probably picked up on a trend, even just this far in.  1) Company is wantonly evil; 2) someone notices; 3) the “government” slaps company on the wrist; 4) company performs nominal lip service to “being better” while it continues to get worse.  

JUST MAKE THEM BE GOOD OR SHUT THEM DOWN.  WHY IS IT SO HARD?

And, in case you were wondering, as of 2020, 30% of Nestlé’s palm oil is STILL not free from deforestation

4. Water privatization:

Let me open with this quote from former CEO (1997-2008) and current chairman emeritus had to say on the subject of drinking water:  

“Water is, of course, the most important raw material we have today in the world. It’s a question of whether we should privatize the normal water supply for the population. And there are two different opinions on the matter. The one opinion, which I think is extreme, is represented by the NGOs, who bang on about declaring water a public right. That means that as a human being you should have a right to water. That’s an extreme solution. The other view says that water is a foodstuff like any other, and like any other foodstuff it should have a market value. Personally, I believe it’s better to give a foodstuff a value so that we’re all aware it has its price, and then that one should take specific measures for the part of the population that has no access to this water, and there are many different possibilities there.”

Just wanted to be clear that *THE LARGEST BOTTLED WATER PRODUCER* would really prefer you not think about how water was, more or less, free before they started putting it in single-use plastics and exporting it to their first-world friends.  

In the United States, Nestlé has faced criticism and legal challenges over its water extraction practices. In California, the company has been accused of continuing to pump water during droughts, despite restrictions and public outcry. In 2017, Nestlé’s permit to extract water from the San Bernardino National Forest was challenged by environmental groups, who argued that the company was taking more water than allowed and harming local ecosystems.  The fact that the West Coast spends most of the warm-season on fire implies that this is, in fact, the case.  

In Michigan, Nestlé has been involved in a long-running dispute over its pumping of groundwater for its Ice Mountain brand. In 2000, the company faced protests and a lawsuit over its plans to extract water from a spring in Mecosta County. Critics argued that Nestlé’s pumping would deplete local aquifers and harm wetlands and streams. The case was eventually settled, with Nestlé agreeing to reduce its pumping and monitor environmental impacts.  Their track record would suggest this is horse shit of a really high degree.  

However, the most controversial aspect of Nestlé’s water operations has been its involvement in water privatization in developing countries. The company has been actively promoting the privatization of water services and using their unbelievable monopolistic power to lobby governments into giving control over public water resources to a company that doesn’t feel human beings need water–not really.

In Pakistan, Nestlé has been criticized for its partnership with the Pure Life brand, which has been accused of exploiting local water resources and selling bottled water at prices that are unaffordable for many residents. In 2018, a report by the Sri Lankan government found that a Nestlé factory in the country had been depleting and contaminating local water supplies, leading to protests and calls for the factory to be shut down.

In Brazil, Nestlé has been involved in a controversial project to extract water from the Guarani Aquifer, one of the world’s largest underground water reserves. The company has partnered with a Brazilian water company to build a pipeline that would transport water from the aquifer to a Nestlé bottling plant. Critics have argued that the project could deplete the aquifer and harm local communities that depend on it for their water supply.

Defenders of water privatization argue that private companies can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase investment in water infrastructure. Defenders of water privatization also all share one brain cell, and I heard it got lost in the mail between users at some point in the early ‘90s.  

5. Pollution:

Nestlé is a major polluter and prone to lying about the worst results of that pollution.  This includes the discharge of industrial wastewater and the generation of unrecyclable plastic waste.  And before you jump down my throat about it:  everyone who was involved in “plastic recycling” has known it to be a scientific impossibility *THE ENTIRE TIME.*  What you thought was saving the environment was more than likely just resupplying materials to the companies that are killing you with them.  Congrats!

One notable case of Nestlé’s moral bankruptcy is a coffee processing plant in Dong Nai province, Vietnam. In the ‘90s, the factory discharged untreated wastewater into a nearby river, causing unnecessary, avoidable pollution and irreparably harming local communities. In 2011, the company was fined by Vietnamese authorities for failing to properly treat its wastewater and comply with environmental regulations.  Considering their CEO is personally funded better than most of the EU, I can’t imagine a fine from the country of Vietnam was anything more than a rounding error on a balance sheet.

In the Philippines, Nestlé’s coffee processing plant in Cagayan de Oro City was also accused of polluting a nearby river with industrial effluents. In 1999, the company faced protests and legal complaints from local residents who claimed that the factory’s wastewater had contaminated their water supply and caused health problems.  They claimed it, by the way, because it had.  

In India, Nestlé has faced criticism over the environmental impact of its instant noodle brand, Maggi. In 2015, tests by Indian authorities found that some Maggi noodle samples contained excessive levels of lead and MSG, leading to a nationwide ban on the product. The company did not properly disclose the presence of these substances on its packaging.  

More broadly, Nestlé has been criticized for its contribution to the global plastic waste crisis. As one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, Nestlé produces a significant amount of single-use plastic packaging, much of which ends up in landfills, oceans, and other natural environments. In 2018, a Greenpeace report named Nestlé as one of the top corporate contributors to plastic pollution in the Philippines, based on waste audits conducted in the country.  And, as I said, *THEY’VE KNOWN IT ISN’T REALLY RECYCLABLE THE WHOLE TIME.*

6. Labor rights violations:

Nestlé violates labor rights for fun, often pushing closely into the “violating the laws of gods and man” territory of disregard for their fellow creatures.  

In 2007, Nestlé faced a lawsuit in Colombia alleging that the company had collaborated with paramilitary groups to intimidate and kill union leaders at its factories. The lawsuit was filed by the estate of Luciano Romero, a union leader who was murdered by paramilitaries in 2005. Nestlé denied the allegations and argued that it had no control over the actions of paramilitaries, but the case highlighted the risks faced by labor activists in Colombia and the potential complicity of multinational corporations.  I want to point out:  Nestle did not deny the association with the paramilitary organization–as a matter of fact they’re pretty open about using PMCs to create de facto military juntas in the name of Nestle all over the Global South.  They merely denied that they ordered anyone killed, directly.  “Oh, it sure would be nice if that union leader didn’t exist.”  I’m sure that was never said in front of *any* insane, armed, privately-owned commandos.  Never.  

In Thailand, Nestlé has been criticized for its treatment of migrant workers in its seafood supply chain. In 2015, a report by the NGO Verité found that many migrant workers in the Thai fishing industry, which supplies fish and seafood to Nestlé and other companies, were subject to forced labor, human trafficking, and other abuses. Nestlé has pretended to do something, but I quietly suspect they’re probably ramping up to tinning the migrant workers because it would be cheaper than fish.  

In Turkey, Nestlé has been involved in a long-running dispute with trade unions over working conditions and collective bargaining rights. In 2012, the company was accused of union-busting and intimidation tactics against workers who were trying to organize at its factories. The International Union of Food Workers (IUF) launched a global campaign against Nestlé, accusing the company of violating international labor standards and failing to respect workers’ rights.  Son-of-a-bitch!  If *TURKEY* has issues with your approach to human rights….what are you even doing?

Nestlé has also faced criticism over its use of temporary and contract workers, who often have lower wages and fewer benefits than permanent employees. In Russia, for example, a 2016 report by the NGO China Labor Watch found that many workers at Nestlé factories were employed through subcontractors and agencies, with some earning less than the legal minimum wage.

Alright, I’m frothing at the mouth and starting to twitch.  You’re going to read this (Ha, no one is reading this) and then go out today and buy a Nestle product because there’s nothing you can do about it.  

To quote my favorite Walton Goggins character:

“Everything about your little world was decided over 200 years ago.”

It definitely feels that way, most of the time, doesn’t it?  

From hell, 

The Strangest