Current Issues
What does Nestlé's commitment to nutrition health and wellness mean?
Food has entered a new phase. Once upon a time it was simply fuel to survive. Today's consumer is looking for something more - an improved nutritional value. We aim to be able to give consumers the products they need for a healthy lifestyle. We encourage a balanced, healthy diet and make products that fit into this; we are committed to increasing the nutritional value of our products while improving taste and pleasure. We inform fully about the ingredients of our products to allow you to take the decisions necessary to live a wellness lifestyle as you wish.
Is Nestlé linked with the Dairy Board of Zimbabwe in any way?
Nestlé does not buy any milk from the Dairy Board of Zimbabwe. Return to top
Fake Nestlé Aid Organization and Nestlé Foundation websites
We have received a number of emails alerting us to fake websites called the Nestlé Aid Organization or the Nestlé Foundation or similar. The emails, claiming to be from Nestlé or a related organization, usually announce that the recipient has won some money or a grant and only needs to fill in their details or pay a small sum of money to release this. In some cases the 'award' has been the offer of a job interview. The email is usually sent from a different domain than the site quoted, often a web-based email domain.
Nestlé does not operate in this way. You are advised to forward any such mails to us at abuse@nestle.com to allow us to forward them to the relevant law-enforcement authorities. Please ignore any such instructions to send money or your personal details. You can always contact your local Nestlé office to confirm whether you have won a promotional prize or other offer - just use the 'contact us' form at the top of this page. Nestlé will never ask you for money as a condition of winning anything.
We have had some success in closing these fake operations down, thanks to the alertness of Nestlé consumers around the world, and will continue to pursue fraudulent operators as soon as we are aware of them, and to the limits of the law.
Nestlé does have a bona fide website run by the Nestlé Foundation at http://www.nestlefoundation.org/. This is devoted to the study of problems of nutrition in the world.
What is Nestlé's response to scam emails?
There have been cases of emails sent to individuals or organizations falsely purporting to be from Nestlé or a partner organization of Nestlé. These are scam emails, and will sometimes ask you for information such as a password or user ID and even sums of money in return for more money or other benefits, such as winning a Nestlé competition or promotion in return.
These emails sometimes look quite convincing, with a Nestlé or Nestlé brand logo, or coming from an email address that looks as if it could be from Nestlé.
In any case, these emails are false and are not at all associated with Nestlé itself or any partner organizations; therefore we strongly suggest that you make sure of the authenticity of such mails (or any other communication) before sending any reply. Nestlé further strongly suggests that you do not send money or any other information; it is simply not Nestlé policy to ask for money or other information in return for winnings, prizes, job interviews or any sort of registration.
If you are worried about an email that you have received, please mail us at abuse@nestle.com to help us to become aware of those incidents and take action against these people. You may also inform or ask your internet service provider for advice or help.
What is Nestlé's position on biofuels?
Nestlé supports sustainable energy use: over the last five years, Nestlé has reduced its energy consumption per tonne of product by 28% and its greenhouse gas emissions by 32%. Nestlé believes that any decision on the use of energy sources must be based on a systematic cost benefit and life cycle analysis, taking into consideration the social and environmental impact, including the effects on food prices and water.
The current production of biofuel relies on the extensive use of crops such as maize and wheat. This has already led to significant price increases and will, in the long term, create food shortages for millions of consumers from lower-income groups for whom basic foodstuffs need to be affordable.
The large scale expansion of these agricultural raw materials for biofuel production will aggravate the problem of water scarcity, as every liter of biofuel made from irrigated maize or soybeans requires between 500 and 5,000 liters of water. Agriculture already uses 70% of available water sources. Furthermore, depending on crop type and geography, CO2 savings compared to fossil fuel can be very small, insome cases only 10%.
Is it right that Nestlé profits from selling bottled water?
Many people consider bottled water to be an example of companies making profits on what should be public property.
First, Nestlé Waters may be the world's largest bottled water company, but it still uses only 0.0009 percent (less than one millionth) of total fresh water consumed worldwide, while Nestlé as a whole - including food manufacturing - uses only 0.005 percent. Nestlé is therefore not a significant factor in the global access-to-water debate: agriculture uses 70 percent of total available fresh water, industry 20 percent and domestic users 10 percent.
The price of bottled water is closer to that of other bottled drinks than to tap water because it includes the same expenses incurred by all bottled drinks producers: the actual cost of the water, ensuring water purity, providing sterile bottles, ensuring a clean bottling process and, finally, all logistical costs.
For more information on how Nestlé husbands water, please visit our water section.
How does Nestlé compensate/pay communities for the water they extract from their land?
There are two situations that are specific to Nestlé Waters when it comes to managing the water resources we operate; one thing that is common, however, is the responsible manner in which we operate these water resources.
In the US and Canada, Nestlé Waters North America is generally the owner of the land and the water resources we operate. Nestle Waters North America frequently buys the land and develops the water supply and delivery systems at its own expense. NWNA usually buys the surrounding land for environmental protection, too. They then comply with the local authorities’ regulations and permits for water use. The amount of water used is regulated at the state level by the environmental authority.
In the rest of the world, NW does not own the water resources we operate. We generally own the buildings and equipment necessary to bottle the water for which we have the permission, as part of a contract, from the ground owner and local authorities (often one and the same), to extract a given volume of water. The right to operate the water resources is negotiated and agreed with the ground owner and local authorities, and payment for the water is included in this contract.
Do you agree that water is a basic human right?
Water is both a human right and a commodity, in that people pay for the water they use, and it plays a crucial economic role.
• While water wasn't included in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human rights, it was considered to be self-evident as a human right, since it is a basic necessity of life.
• At the UN International Conference on the Environment that was held in Dublin in 1992. The Conference Report set out recommendations for action at local, national and international levels, these included Four Principles. Principle Four acknowledges the economic value of water: “Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognised as an economic good. Within this principle, it is vital to recognise first the basic right of all human beings to have access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price.” This is a non-binding statement.
• In 2002, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Affairs recognised access to water as a stand-alone right in General Comment No. 15. General Comments are authoritative statements of the Committee of its understanding of rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; they are only binding on those States Parties that have accepted them. The Committee stated "Everyone is entitled to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.”
• Major capital investments are needed to build, maintain and operate healthy water delivery systems, and water is obviously sold to users. We also pay for water when we buy food and all products that use water in their production. For instance, according to UNESCO, it takes up to 1,000 tonnes of water to produce 1 tonne of grain. In most cases, access to safe water and treatment of water polluted by human activity does not come without substantial investments, so there is a price for water.
• The United Nations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and others all point out that it is governments who are charged with enforcing human rights guarantees, including water. According to the UN, it is the duty of governments to make sure that all people can get access to at least a basic amount of water of about 20 liters.
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What are Nestlé's infant formula business practices in the Developing World?
Nestlé conforms to the spirit and the letter of the WHO Code on marketing breast milk substitutes. Please visit our Babymilk issues site for a comprehensive discussion of this topic.
What is the Nestlé policy on genetically modified organisms (GMO)?
From its inception more than 130 years ago, Nestlé has built its business on successfully applying scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations while taking full responsibility for the quality and the safety of its products. Throughout these years Nestlé has been manufacturing and marketing products tailored to meet the diverse needs and preferences of consumers all over the world. This broad experience has provided Nestlé with thorough insight into and understanding of consumer demands, both in developing and developed countries. Clearly, consumers' perceptions and opinions differ in the various regions of the world. Hence Nestlé has always strived to respect these differences and to take them into account in its activities.
Gene technology in food production With this vast experience, Nestlé recognizes the potential gene technology has in the longer term to improve the quality, availability and nutritional value of food. Gene technology has the potential to increase food production and to support sustainable agricultural practices. In some instances, positive health effects have been confirmed. For those reasons, Nestlé supports a responsible application of gene technology for food production based on sound scientific research.
Safety The safety of our products and the integrity of the ingredients from which they are manufactured are paramount to Nestlé. Genetically modified crops, as all raw materials used by Nestlé, comply to strict regulatory and safety evaluations.
WHO,
FAO,
OECD and numerous independent scientific bodies have concluded that genetically modified crops, including ingredients derived from them, that have passed food safety evaluation procedures, can be registered as safe for use in food production. Nestlé concurs with their shared opinion that such crops are as safe as their traditional counterparts.
Consumer information and labeling Consumers' confidence in the food they are buying is supported by having access to information. Nestlé's Consumer Services are well equipped to provide this access and thus are the first source of information, including the use of ingredients, derived from genetically modified crops, in Nestlé products. Many governments now have implemented or are considering regulations for the use and labeling of these ingredients. In the absence of a global agreement on the labeling of ingredients, derived from genetically modified crops, and recognising governments responsibility for the regulatory process, Nestlé strictly adheres to national laws and regulations regarding their labeling.
Consumer perceptions and the future needs of society As a global food manufacturer and marketer, Nestlé takes into consideration local needs, cultural differences and consumer preferences as well as attitudes concerning the use of ingredients derived from genetically modified crops. In some regions of the world, governments have expressed a keen interest in this technology as a potential tool to address their country's future food requirements. Nestlé's long term experience in food production can be a valuable resource in finding the right balance between these elements. This may well result in different solutions in various regions of the world, without jeopardizing in any way the safety and quality of its products. Provided their safety is proven, as required for all ingredients, Nestlé will continue to use ingredients derived from genetically modified crops wherever appropriate.
What are trans-fatty acids?
Trans fatty acids (TFA) are a specific form of fat formed when liquid oils are turned into solids such as shortening and hard margarine in a process known as partial hydrogenization. According to Western European dietary data, half of TFA consumed occur naturally in foods such as milk and meat products. The rest comes principally from oil and fats (19 percent), or prepared foods such as bakery goods (13 percent), chips, French fries, pizzas and other savory pies.
Why are they bad?
Eating TFA can result in undesirable effects on blood cholesterol (raising LDL, or 'bad' cholesterol; lowering HDL, or 'good' cholesterol) and thus could potentially have a bad impact on heart health.
What is Nestlé doing about TFA?
Nestlé considers that the reduction of TFA in prepared food products is important and has been committed since 1993 to reduce TFA in prepared food products. In a normal consumption pattern, TFA intake would not exceed 3% of the total fat in foods, or 1% of the daily total energy intake as recommended by the World Health Organization.
Priority was given to reduce TFA in products which are consumed by children and to products containing higher levels of TFA such as soups, snacks, pizzas, ready-made meals and certain confectionery items. (Nestlé has relatively few products such as oils, meat products, cheese, bakery goods, and butter which are principal sources of TFA). Since 2002, Nestlé has reduced the use of trans fatty acids in its product portfolio by more than 25,000 tonnes.
Compliance with the TFA reduction policy is audited in our businesses globally. By end 2006, 95% of Nestlé's product range complied with the policy.
What is Nestlé's position on palm oil?
Nestlé shares the concern about the serious environmental threat to rainforests and peat fields in Southeast Asia caused by the planting of palm oil plantations. As an environmentally responsible company we want to do whatever we can to help solve this problem. We have a long-standing commitment to environmental protection which began decades ago.
Palm oil is not a major raw material for us. We only buy processed palm oil, and processed oil mixes, which often comes from multiple sources. We do not use crude palm oil, and thus have no direct link to the palm oil plantations. This complicates our ability to trace our palm oil back to source. In addition there is very little palm oil available that comes from sources independently certified as sustainable and traceable.
Nevertheless, we are committed to living up to the high environmental standards set out in our Corporate Business Principles and ensuring that our suppliers also do so. The majority of our supplies come from members of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil which is developing an independent certification system for sustainable and traceable palm oil. We are working with our suppliers to improve and document traceability.
It is also worth pointing out that palm oil is also used as a material from which bio-fuels are produced and Nestlé has repeatedly spoken out against the production of such fuels from materials used to feed people.
Nestlé is deeply concerned about the destruction of the rainforests, peat fields , air quality and animal life and is prepared to play a full part in finding an effective multi-stakeholder solution to this complex problem.
Nestlé investment policies in the Middle East
What are Nestlé investment policies in the Middle East?
In response to various enquiries on Nestlé Group corporate policy with regard to the conflict in the Middle East, Nestlé states that as a truly global company it operates in almost all countries in the world, employing some 280 000 people of more than 100 nationalities and of many creeds. We provide for consumers worldwide without regard to religious, political, racial or cultural differences.This is a core company value enshrined in the Nestlé Business Principles.
Nestlé has consistently emphasized the importance of mutual respect and tolerance. Guided by these principles, the Group's investment decisions have always been based only on commercial and industrial viability, excluding political considerations. This is how we have invested, among other countries elsewhere in the world, in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Israel and further in Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, demonstrating all the time respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.
In each and everyone of these countries the Company serves the needs of its consumers, as well as the interests of its local staff. Nestlé employs more than 30 000 people in the Muslim world, and has invested CHF 2 billion (2007). Nestlé contributes to the prosperity and wellness of people in those countries.