Henri Nestl develops the first breast milk substitute.

In his "Memorial on the Nutrition of Infants" printed in 1869, Henri Nestl wrote: "During the first months, the mother's milk will always be the most natural nutriment, and every mother, able to do so, should

In 1921, Nestl begins local dairy product manufacturing in Brazil

Breast milk substitutes are used widely throughout the industrialized nations. Only slightly more than 20% of US mothers choose to breastfeed.

The Protein Advisory Group (PAG) is organized as an ad hoc coalition of UN agencies. PAG was concerned with the problems of infant "protein malnutrition" in tropical and subtropical regions. PAG was initially a cooperative and non-adversarial group of pediatricians, nutritionists, government officials, and representatives of infant food manufacturers.

Derrick Jelliffe, director of the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute and PAG consultant, writes Child Nutrition in Developing Countries, a U.S Government brochure warning of the dangers of improperly used breast milk substitutes Jelliffe brings his concerns to a UN meeting in Bogata, Columbia. Another group of health experts at that meeting, disagree with his position, holding that infant formula is needed product and that infant morbidity has to be viewed as part of a

June: PAG Conference in Paris. By this time the group's emphasis has shifted to the marketing practices of the infant formula manufacturers and the tone becomes more adversarial. July: PAG Issues Statement 23 outlining the responsibilities of governments, pediatricians and the infant formula industry. Manufacturers are asked to look to marketing practices and product labeling. Nestl performs an internal audit and concludes that the only change necessary is greater emphasis on the "primacy of breast feeding in its advertisements".

August: The New Internationalist publishes an article entitled "The Baby Food Tragedy . October: The New Internationalist
prints an edited and abbreviated Nestl response as well as a follow-up editorial entitled "Milk and Murder". In its article Nestl invites journalists to corporate headquarters in Vevey Switzerland to get the complete story.

March: Mike Muller releases his pamphlet, "The Baby Killer .

June: A German activist organization, the Third World Action Group (TWAG), publishes a German language translation of the Muller pamphlet entitled Nestl totet Babys (Nestl Kills Babies)

June 2: (The Berne Trial) Nestl sues for libel. A total of 17 people including TWAG and all others involved in the translation and publication of the pamphlet are named as defendants. Nestl cites four reasons for the suit: The Title of the pamphlet: 2. An introductory statement the Nestl's practices were "unethical and immoral" 3. The allegation that Nestl was directly responsible for the deaths of thousand of babies. 4. The allegation that Nestl

October: (The Berne Trial) Nestl offers to settle if TWAG destroys the remaining copies of the pamphlet, pays for the publication of the settlement and contributes money to Third World charities. TWAG refuses the offer. (The Berne Trial) In contrast to the decorum normally maintained by parties to a lawsuit in Switzerland, TWAG and the other defendants mount a publicity campaign with press conferences, private appeals and mailings.

November: (The Berne Trial) In a press conference 2 weeks before the hearing TWAG announces that the purpose of the hearings will be to "examine the activities of a Swiss multinational in developing countries". A spokesperson for the World Council of Churches appears at the press conferencebefore the trial, 8 Two days manufacturers announce the formation of the International Council of Infant Food Industries (ICIFI) is announced along with a code of ethics to help infant formula manufacturers self-regulate their marketing and advertising practices.

Nestl decides to drop all but the first libel charge and the hearings begin. All 17 defendants take the stand against Nestls two representatives. The sheer volume of the defendants testimony as well as its emotional and anecdotal character make it clear that Nestl is on trial as much as are the defendants. Immediately following the hearings Nestl finally decides to break its silence and holds a press conference.

July:(The Berne Trial) The TWAG defendants are found guilty of libel and ordered to pay fines of 300 Swiss Francs. ($150 U.S.) The judge does not, however, clear Nestl. He says in his closing statement; "If Nestl S.A. wants to be spared the accusations of immoral and unethical conduct, it will need to change its advertising practices." The film , Bottle Babies, is produced by German filmmaker Peter Krieg. It is premiered during the 5th assembly of the World Council of

First Nestl boycott led by U.S.based INFACT (Infant Formula Action Coalition); end to infantformula promotion demanded.

U.S. Senate hearings (chaired by Edward M. Kennedy) further damage Nestl's reputation and suggest the need for international consensus. Senator Kennedy asks the World Health Organization to "convene an international conference on

WHO / UNICEF meeting recommends development of international code for marketing breast-milk substitutes. INBC (International Nestl Boycott Committee) and IBFAN (International Baby Food Action Network) are formed. Though many U.S. church groups join the boycott, the United Methodist Church (USA) forms The Methodist Task Force (MTF) to investigate the issue; recommends against joining the boycott.

WHO adopts an International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. The Nestl Coordination Center for Nutrition (NCCN) is established. February: Nestls top executives fly to Dayton, Ohio for a secret meeting with the Methodist Task Force. Following that meeting, Nestl announces its' intention to follow the WHO Code and issues detailed instructions to marketing personnel. The Nestl Infant Formula Audit Commission (NIFAC), also known as the Muskie Commission, is established to monitor company compliance with the WHO Code.

Chance meeting between Niels Christiansen of the NCCN and Douglas Johnson of INFACT leads to direct NestlINFACT talks.

After talks with Nestl, WHO, UNICEF, and Muskie Commission, activist groups end first boycott. International Association of Infant Food Manufacturers (IFM) founded, more inclusive of industry than ICIFI.

Activists attempt to relaunch Nestl boycott, who claim Nestl reneged on 1984 agreement, receiving little attention in the U.S..

Nestl Plan of Action for Infant and Young Child Feeding promises reduction of donations, and calls for cooperation of concerned parties

Muskie Commission decides it has fulfilled its mandate and dissolves itself.

WHO and UNICEF start the "Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative" IFM agrees to cooperation aimed at ending infant-formula donations to maternity wards and hospitals in developing countries by the end of 1992.

WHO and UNICEF announce actions taken in most developing countries to end infant-formula donations.

Critics publish Breaking the Rules 1994, a report on alleged violations of the WHO Code by each manufacturer. Nestl investigates and claims that most charges are unfounded or already corrected.

UNICEF criticizes Church of England's decision to end boycott. Carol Bellamy becomes UNICEF executive director and recommends minimizing association with members of IFM. A new activist coalition, IGBM, is formed. Nestle stop providing health institutions with free supply of infant formula in many parts of the world, this practice remains in some regions, such as the Middle East, in response to government requests for such free supplies

January: IBFAN issues The Code Handbook, declaring any food fed to a child before age two to be a "breast milk substitute.". IGBM publishes "Cracking the Code," allegations against manufacturers and is praised by UNICEF. July: International Pediatric Association adopts a policy of cordial relations with manufacturers. October: Nestl this decision. UNICEF criticizesCEO Peter Brabeck meets with UNICEF executive director Carol Bellamy.

January: WHO proposes new process to resolve differences over code implementation and foster implementation of WHO recommendations by countries. April: UN expresses concern about the transmission of H.I.V., the AIDS virus, from mothers to babies through breast feeding. July: Gro Harlem Brundtland takes office as director general of WHO take personal responsibility for WHO process to resolve outstanding differences over code implementation.

UN Consultation on young child feeding to be held.

2002
WHA Resolution Number 55/15 states that :As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, Nestl has unilaterally taken the decision to change the backing of all its infant cereals across all markets to start from 6 months

2004
Nestle revised its internal Nestle instructions to Nestle Employees

2004
Nestle issued a new System controlling the marketing of breast milk substitute calledNESTLE CODE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM That include Nestle polices for marketing of breast milk substitutes per country according to WHO recommendations& national regulations.

2005
In line therefore with the WHO Code article 5.7 as well as the WHA resolution article 47.5 of 1994 regarding the donation of free or subsidized supplies of breast milk substitutes in any part of health care systems, Nestl has unilaterally taken the decision to stop this practice across all markets as of the 1st of January 2005