Nestle children's book prize ends following protests by authors

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Baby Milk Action welcomes the news that the Nestlé Children´s Book Prize in the UK has come to an
end by mutual agreement between Nestlé and the Booktrust. http://www.thebookseller.com/news/51924-nestl-childrens-prize-to-end.html

However no mention is made that last month Gold Medal winner, Sean Taylor, publicly refused the Nestlé prize checque, citing concerns over Nestlé´s baby food marketing practices. Other authors have spoken out against Nestlé´s involvement in past years. The report  simply states that Booktrust was reviewing its priorities and that "Nestlé explained that it was increasingly moving its community support towards nutrition, health and wellness issues."

See our press release at: http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press12dec07.html

In 2006 Nestlé ended its sponsorship of the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, also after more than 20 years and bad publicity from an artist’s boycott. Then too it neglected to mention this. An alternative sponsor was quickly found.
See:http://www.babymilkaction.org/press/press14june06.html

A few years ago the Booktrust bowed to protests from authors over proposed Nestlé sponsorship for a teenage book prize and found a different sponsor.

Nestle continues to be one  most boycotted companies on the planet for practices that endanger children
is a wholly inappropriate sponsor for projects relating to children. Nestlé´s own Global Public Affairs Manager admits Nestlé is ´widely boycotted´, targeted over its aggressive marketing of baby foods in breach of international standards.

Gold Medal Winner, Sean Taylor, refused the Nestlé cheque at the last award ceremony and made his
concerns public.