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Nestle 'should apologise'

by
2008-11-27 12:55

Dear Editor,

I read with horror the article about two of Nestle's products that have been found to exceed the "acceptable" amount of melamine. This raised my ire.

We're talking about products that are consumed by little babies and toddlers, yet Nestle doesn't once apologise. Instead the blame is aimed at agriculture.

Are they not responsible then for the final product they manufacture? When will they step up and be accountable? And why do we only hear about this problem now?

The melamine contamination problem is not new. It started with dog food and animal feed over a year ago, if I'm not mistaken.

They know who their suppliers are - they know this has been a potential risk, yet they didn't test ages ago?

I'm appalled and I'm sure there are many other consumers out there who feel the same way. I for one won't be buying any other Nestle products.

By the way, I tried to complain on their website, but to send them an e-mail you need to provide ID number, cell number, address - it's ridiculous. In frustration I'm now complaining more publicly.

Kath

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Frank 11/27/2008 1:16:00 PM
Why should Nestle appologise? This is a frenzy caused by the media and nothing else. The melamine found in the products are far below the international standard for those products. Nestle decided to pull the products after it was suggested they do so by our health department only. There is no real threat here in my humble opinion.
Riaan 11/27/2008 1:18:07 PM
I just want to know, how can they allow ANY of that stuff in baby food. I mean its an industrial chemical, it should not even be allowed in small doses. This is really not cool, luckily for us our baby was breast-fed and very healthy indeed. If this is not a wake-up call to all those bottle-baby-parents then i don't know. Stop feeding your babies formula and stick to breast-milk, its designed for your baby
jannie 11/27/2008 1:19:25 PM
Are you mad??? They should be fined a massive fine! These huge corporations get away with murder and the public must just always be happy with it! Bullsh*t!! Enough is enough...something MUST be done
neil 11/27/2008 1:20:06 PM
I feel the same. My wife returned some Nido yesterday and was told by the supermarket that Nestle had been there two days previously (on Monday) to remove bad batches. Why then was the story made public only on Wednesday? My toddlers could have been drinking tainted products for 2 days longer than necessary. Maybe they think they've saved a public relations disaster. The reality is that they areb now deservedly losing customers. I'm another one.
Bev 11/27/2008 1:22:03 PM
Kath if you are that serious and confident about your facts to complain then why not leave your details with Nestle so that they can come back to you with explanations. You are not going to get your desired effect which I take it is the "truth" by putting this out there for public comment and whinge.
cj 11/27/2008 1:22:16 PM
Not only in the above instance regarding contamination. Far too much "gumph" is going into food we consume - look at GM - and yet our government is doing nothing to force these large corporations to fix the problem and adhere, in the case of GM foods in particular, to indicating that info on their labels. It's time the public did something to force the issue.
Stix 11/27/2008 1:25:15 PM
Simple solution, shut them down. It is babies and toddlers for crying out loud. It has become the norm in this country to pass the blame. I am afraid our government's reluctance to address corruption and low standards is fueling this care free attitude. How'd this pass the SABS?
Nick 11/27/2008 1:26:43 PM
LETS BOYCOTT NESTLE
The Anti Bunny 11/27/2008 1:29:43 PM
I couldn't agree more... I have a 6 month old Baby who has been on Lactogen 1 since 3 months(before that he was Breast Fed) and a 2 year old Son who up until about 3 months ago, was a NIDO addict (he doesn't touch the stuff now)... How am I to know that they are okay now??? The only positive about this is that at least Nestle tested the products themselves, if I boycott Nestle products how do I know I can trust any other manufacturer??? It's all VERY worrying.
Battlegoose 11/27/2008 1:33:18 PM
Funny that there's no mention of the fact that Nestle Gold Cross condensed milk was reported to have tested positive for melaminea number of weeks ago- no mention of it being pulled off the shelves either. The melamine problem goes much further back than the pet food scare- it has been common knowledge that the Chinese have been using it to boost "protein" levels in livestock feed since the early 90's. But the greed of the big business has kept it quiet!!!
tribalzone 11/27/2008 1:34:45 PM
they use melamine to give the milk powder a higher protein reading hence just about everyone does it to cut costs and make more profits... I reckon they should get a huge fine to discourage companies from this practise.
Mike3 11/27/2008 1:37:45 PM
Nestle is a bunch of crooks. They also do price fixing and bully dairy farmers to accept lower price while they never lower there prices. I suppose share-holders like their way of doing bussiness.
Sevendust 11/27/2008 1:40:40 PM
In case none of you realize this, your foodstuffs will NEVER be without contaminants. The food industry (local and internationally) has set allowable limits for one simple reason. COST. If you want contaminant free food, it can be done. But be prepared to foot a 500% to 600% increase in cost! So whinge an moan an blow everything out of proportion... These are the facts from someone that actually works in the industry.
SJB 11/27/2008 1:41:04 PM
Well i know for a fact that Nestle is the greediest company in SA at the moment. Its costs them next to nothing to produce all their products, but still their prices are so high, I FOR ONE WILL NOT BUY ANY NESTLE PRODUCTS EVER!!! My child was on Nido +1 when the news broke. I dont care if they say the products are "SAFE" i will not take that chance.
TM 11/27/2008 1:47:25 PM
Why must they apologise, they did the right thing by recalling the products... do we need an apology for everything that goes wrong even when the company does the right thing!!!! Seriously
Jan public 11/27/2008 1:50:21 PM
I solemnly promise that as from today I will never ever buy a Nestle product ever. I also promise that I will tell everyday another person about my strong belief and the action I have taken. I also promise to circulate a mail message to all my friends. A company that feels nothing for babies does not have a place in society. We the public must force them to close this ridiculous business. The black community in SA knows about consumer resistance. I
Amy 11/27/2008 1:50:30 PM
I agree with Kath. Nestle should apologise. I too have tried complaining on their website and after providing all the details (yes, ID number and cell number,etc.) the site crashed saying it was too busy. This is ridiculous!
ANDY 11/27/2008 1:50:44 PM
This will highly affect those who cant read or dont know which bar codes or products were affected by this.They need to make it their job that everyone is aware and print in local newspapers so people can identify if they have already bought nestle products.
cassuis 11/27/2008 1:51:28 PM
Oh my, the world is falling apart at the seems. Please people read the article again and again and then again, taking note that Nestle, not a independent lab tested the products found traces too be to high and recalled it, same goed for vehicle companies recalling batches with defects, if you want to take up a cause, finger parents who smole around their children, buy them junkfood filled too the brim with preservatices etc. why should they apologize? get fined for what? sillyness
Sorrie 11/27/2008 1:52:53 PM
Don't you know that a coerced apology means nothing? Bang on for long enough about this and they will probably apologise just to make the issue go away without giving anything else too much thought.
william 11/27/2008 1:56:12 PM
the ceo of Nestle said the levels are 10 times lower than international standards ...1)that is a lie as the alarms were raised because levels were to high 2) there should be zero levels. Just shows that it is all about the money with these massive companies..get the cheapest produce to make the most money. Use as much raw/organic materials in feeding your family and the healthier they will be , is the bottom line I think
Archangel 11/27/2008 1:56:17 PM
Oh Relax what is this absolute obsession with everybody having to run around apologise all the time. Nestle is a highly respected company and simple common sense would tell one that a company of this stature would not have done this on purpose. If you do not want to provide any of your personal details when laying a complaint then lift the phone and call them. If I felt as strongly as you do about this I would have had no problem in furnishing my details.
Dominique 11/27/2008 2:00:11 PM
My question is: Why put that crap in the milk? What other products have Melamine in them? I will never buy Nestle agian!
Badger 11/27/2008 2:02:28 PM
For goodness sake, do you want Mr. Joe Soap to stnd behind a podium and say..." we are very sorry for the contamination...Thank You.." Get real and if you don't buy their products .. "WHO CARES ???" someone else will. Boy, aren't you glad you do not live in INDIA ??? Maybe they will bitch about the poor service delivery, cause nobody is washing away the BLOOD on the streets. "PLEASE GET OFF THIS BUS" !!!
Houston 11/27/2008 2:03:51 PM
The melamine problems in China put everyone on alert, and SA were quick to state that our products were "safe". Well they may be "safe", but Nestle should not have allowed this product onto the market in the first place due to the current issues surrounding melamine. If this was an isolated incident then it could be understood, but it is not and Nestle should be embarassed.
cassuis 11/27/2008 2:03:55 PM
CJ people like you actually scare me, "look at gm for instance" what do you want us to see in "gm"? your ingorance of science is astounding, GM is not something that gets added or manufactured, it's manipulated, speeding a natural process called " method of trait selection" along.I agree with sevendust, demand your 100% wild grown oats etc. but DO NOT complain when you spend every single cent you earn on food. boycot Nestle, bwhaa what a joke.
Jeni 11/27/2008 2:13:48 PM
Kath, you are right in being angry about this. The dangers of consuming this amount of melamine are kidney, liver etc failure. How many people know that their toddlers/babies ill-health could be as a result of the formula they are feeding them? This is why there has been no reports of ill-health resulting from consuming these products. Now there is an awareness created, and you'll find more tests will result, and possible law cases against Nestle.
Stephen 11/27/2008 2:13:58 PM
Hey Kath. I think you are mistaking them with an organisation who cares. Since when has as a child's life or health been more important than a company's profit or a director's bonus. Nice idea though :-)
Jeni 11/27/2008 2:16:32 PM
If it was your kid at risk, would you be so complacent????
terence 11/27/2008 2:16:32 PM
their products only contained a level 2 or something of melamine ad the international standard to start worrying is 10...so why should they have appologised. the stuff you find in mcdonalds and KFC is even worse for your babies/kids
Kyle Logan 11/27/2008 2:19:51 PM
Melamine is a contaminant which is widely present in the food and feed chain. This can contribute to the presence of low levels in food products which do not pose a health risk. Nestlé is aware of this and has been conducting ongoing tests on finished products and raw materials since recent developments in China around this issue. Nestlé will not release product to the market should it find that the levels of melamine exceed the internationally accepted norms.
Faizal 11/27/2008 2:20:11 PM
Nestle is pathethic with their response. I sent an email and got a reply saying that the formula is within the acceptable limits and is safe. If it is safe why are they pulling it off the shelves. Melamine killed dogs and babies - it is used to decieve about the amount of nutrition in the product sold. This is just the baby formula what about all the other choclates, milo, coffee etc. I will not buy Nestle products again as I cannot trust them at all.
jenny 11/27/2008 2:24:11 PM
clearly do not have children! you would demand an apology too if your beer were contaminated
coco 11/27/2008 2:24:49 PM
Our country has a major problem because there is no dedicated food testing/analysis lab to test all foods. All tests are performed on an ad hoc basis when someone gets worried or when a scandal breaks overseas. All foods are 'contaminated' to some degree with pesticides, fungicide, heavy metals, bacteria, preservatives ...). It is a problem when it above a limit where it makes us sick. The new baby formula you move to will be contaminated next week. Continuous vigilancey is required.
Smokey-smurf 11/27/2008 2:28:44 PM
They'll just blame it on the bunny.
nthatuwa 11/27/2008 2:33:50 PM
What will an apology do in this case?The formulas we're talking about here are those of newborns to 5 months. I'm a mother of a 5 month old angel and she eats NAN-1 (another Nestle product).I haven't heard anything about checking all Nestle products. I've just been to a store and they still have Nido & Lactogen on the shelves.I'm deeply alarmed! What's next?It seems people are so greedy for money that they give little,or no,attention to important things.
MJS 11/27/2008 2:37:02 PM
Stop moaning and buy organic, if you are really sooo worried about what your children and you eat/drink. Don't always jump wholeheartedly onto the media hype wagon.
Badger 11/27/2008 2:46:29 PM
My daughter is 3 years old and drinks Nido 3, sometimes Nido 1 and believe me, she is still as healthy as ever. But thanks for asking anyway.
Elizabeth 11/27/2008 2:49:23 PM
I just LOVE Nestle chocolates! Their milk chocolate is the absolute best! People, calm down please. The level was, after all, below the international standard. Have a good Thursday, everyone. I'm on my way to go buy myself a lovely Nestle chocolate slab!
Bob Hope 11/27/2008 2:50:46 PM
So tell me what is the death count at? Stop wyning people !!!
Dan's an idiot 11/27/2008 2:50:46 PM
Nestle make Dan cross. Must say sorry.
Big Bad Bob 11/27/2008 2:58:22 PM
This is not actually Nestle's fault. The problem lies with feed supplied to some of the farms from which they purchase milk. I'd agree that an apology and an explanation is due, but it should come from the parties that are really at fault.
Pokkel 11/27/2008 3:01:13 PM
MJS you obviously don't have kids.... and I suppose organic is freely available where you are. I went to the trouble to send an e-mail to Nestle on their website at 8 am yesterday to request batch numbers and to date have not received ANY responce from them. I won't buy another Nestle product out of principal
mb 11/27/2008 3:01:39 PM
It is shocking that they treat this as if they are producing steel or sand or cement, really disappointed!!!
Andre 11/27/2008 3:01:41 PM
The melamine issue has been in the news for over two years and it all started with animal feed. For Nestlé to blame the department of agriculture is ridiculous as they were aware of the problem and still not testing their raw materials. Remember, this is not the only product from Nestlé that had high melamine content. As a father of a one year old I was appalled at their statement that they would ?fully reimburse? customers if they return the product. It is very easy, do not buy their products as there are numerous alternatives and hopefully those companies do their homework and product research. This is corporate greed and insensitivity to the issue at an all time high. They are playing with the lives of babies and how much lower do you go from here? Absolutely shocking. As for those that comment that it is not a problem because the level is low enough, have a baby.
Gregg 11/27/2008 3:05:22 PM
Agree with you Kath - it is appalling. There is nothing even about this on their website and they continue to promote their products as if everything is normal. It is just pure unadulterated greed on behalf of the company!
Big Bad Bob 11/27/2008 3:05:27 PM
If you were Nestle then what would you take more seriously? A complaint from somebody whose identify can be verified and who they can get in contact with? Or an effectively anonymous posting on an unmoderated forum?
Big Bad Bob 11/27/2008 3:10:37 PM
That's placing emotion ahead of reason and facts. The fact that the contaminated product is designed for babies makes no real difference to the severity of the problem or the response we should expect. Nestle are not directly responsible for this. They have issued a warning, withdrawn unsold potentially contaminated product, and are offering to replace contaminated product. Which is a reasonable response to the situation.
DGC 11/27/2008 3:16:23 PM
As a concerned parent and after hearing the media reports I tried to call Nestle but it was after 4:30pm, I visited the Nestle website (Media pages) and read a news release dated the previous day. The Nestle report and the media reports are very different and in fairness I think the media has made a mountain over a mole hill. According to Nestle the batches that were withdrawn were from June and July. Why were the batches withdrawn now? If the Nestle standard is 10x lower than accepted norm, what is the issue?
rg 11/27/2008 3:26:38 PM
I find it curious that only baby foods have tested positive. I skeptically wonder if other products aren't affected, but they know that babies with less kidney capacity etc are the most likely to show symptoms. Something to think about... There is no reason for melamine to make it into food products - it's well known that it's used to rig protein measurements.
Hein 11/27/2008 3:34:24 PM
Last night I went to a new food retail shop that opened in Krugersdorp and was amazed to see that they had products on their shelves that we're supposed to be retracted (either the shop is in error or they have not received any notification) the question is how many other shops are their that also still have the products on their shelves.
Organic 11/27/2008 3:50:59 PM
Badger and all the other pro Nestle coments.. I am clearly not intelligent enough to understand... if you have been warned, how can you still feed your kids Nestle formula or be pro Nestle ? Nestle baby formula has been recalled a few times over the last few years as it was not fit for human consumption. This company is so use to this... but still they don't give a crap.
Dries 11/27/2008 4:44:09 PM
I have two kids and have used various Nestle products for them and for us. I have left a mesage for Nestle but have had no response, until I hear from them my response will be to not purchase any Nestle product from Coffee to baby milk from them.

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