Ex-Unicef head joins Nestle

The recent move of Ann Veneman, former executive director of Unicef, to Nestle Board has left nutrition campaign groups worried. While Unicef supports breastfeeding, Nestle, the food and drinks giant, undermines it.

Before she joined Nestle Board on April 13, nutrition advocacy groups International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and Baby Milk Action wrote to Veneman requesting her to reconsider her decision. “Her decision has given a powerful public relation coup,” says Joyce Chanesta, chair of the IBFAN Coordinating Council. Patti Rundall, policy director, Baby Milk Action explains, “Nestle will get unwarranted good public relations through the image transfer from Unicef, and an impression that Unicef approves Nestle.”