AHP owned Wyeth (producers of Progress, SMA, Wysoy) is one of the major violators of the WHO Code of Conduct for manufacturers of babymilk formula. It is listed as totally or substantially violating the Code's requirements of no promotion in healthcare facilities, no promotion to health workers and no free samples or supplies. The company is the subject of boycott calls in the US and Australia. Wyeth is part of the babymilk industry. It is not only the specific practices of individual companies that cause problems. The attitudes created by the currrent system of exploitation gives power and profits to the few, at the expense of people, animals and the environment. It is important to expose the unethical practices of specific companies as their behaviour is often indicative of the entire system.

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What's Wrong With ?

Irresponsible marketing As well as their irresponsible marketing and selling of babymilk formula, Wyeth also manufactures the bonzodiazepine tranquilliser, Ativan and is one of the companies which has been criticised for not warning doctors of it's possible addictiveness, and therefore of the need to prescribe it for short periods only. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping  published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. ]

Abusing animals The company tests its products on animals and continues to use acute toxicity tests such as the Draize test. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping  published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. ]

Credits and References: Most of the information in this section was taken from The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping  published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. 

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Opposition and Campaigns

Exploitation and profiteering do not need to exist. A better way of running our lives can be created based on the sharing of resources and on respect for each other and for nature. Increasingly people are questioning and challenging those with power and are seeking alternatives. Let's hope it's possible to make a difference.

• Multinational Monitor On-line
  • A Formula for disaster by Ellen Sokol - March 92
• Baby Food Action Group Australia
  • United States Products You May Want to Boycott  
• Infant Feeding Action Coalition Canada
  • List of products to boycott in Australia
  • List of products to boycott in the UK
  • List of products to boycott in North America
  • Overview of the WHO/UNICEF code of practise
  • National breastfeeding week undermined by baby milk companies  
• About Baby Milk Action UK from INFANT
  

Company Profile

Products and brandnames:

• Progress, SMA, Wysoy
• Ativan: a bonzodiazepine tranquilliser,

This information is provided by the McSpotlight internet site, http://www.mcspotlight.org, the most comprehensive source of information about multinationals ever assembled. Please send us any more relevant information for consideration. This page can be printed as a self-standing leaflet. Anti-copyright - please distribute as widely as possible. The Beyond McDonald's pages provide information about the unethical practices of many other companies and industries. On McSpotlight you can find out What's Wrong With Multinationals, join the debate and get involved with campaigns. PO Box 10792. London N10 3PQ, UK. mailto:info@mcspotlight.org