You are in our Global Site Contact menu Contact us Home About us Nutrition in the first 1000 days Marketing infant nutrition: getting it right Marketing infant nutrition: getting it right Nestlé supports the optimal nutrition for mothers and babies during the first 1000 days of life. Breast milk is the best start for an infant and we are committed to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. When mothers cannot or decide not to breastfeed, we provide safe and high-quality nutrition for non-breastfed babies. To be worthy of the trust that millions of families place in us, we do not interfere with mothers’ desire to breastfeed. We have therefore implemented industry-leading policies on responsible marketing of breast-milk substitutes. Our values are rooted in respect. Compliance with the WHO Code is an expression of respect that all of our employees are accountable for. We are proud to lead the industry in this regard. Our Policy and Procedures implementing the WHO Code on a responsible marketing of breastmilk substitutes Download our Policy Previous Button 1867-1960s 1960s 1970s 1980s Next Button The first century of manufactured infant nutrition At the turn of the 19th century, nutritious and life-sustaining infant formulas were not available as a safe alternative to breastfeeding. Babies who weren’t breastfed were unlikely to survive the first year of life. In 1867, Henri Nestlé developed his farine lactée infant formula, made of dried cow’s milk combined with cereals and sugar. This met the need for a safe, easily digestible breast-milk substitute for infants. Nestlé never intended his successful product to compete with breast milk. In his ‘Memorial on the Nutrition of Infants’ (1869), he wrote: “During the first months, the mother’s milk will always be the most naturally nutritious, and every mother, able to do so, should herself suckle her children.” To this day, Nestlé is a strong supporter of breastfeeding and believes that breastfeeding provides the best exclusive nutrition for babies in the first six months of life. However, for mothers who cannot breastfeed or who choose not to, we offer infant nutrition products backed by the best possible current scientific research. Find out more Breast-milk substitute marketing compliance record READ MORE Our commitment to supporting breastfeeding READ MORE Nutrition in the first 1000 days of life READ MORE Share this page TO THE TOP Nestlé News Sign up for Global Nestlé News Sign up Compliance Concerns Speak Up about your concerns Speak Up Contact us Across the globe, Nestlé are here to help answer your queries Contact us Nestlé We unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come USEFUL LINKS Ask Nestlé (FAQs) Contact us Search for jobs Sign up for news Speak Up COMPANY DOWNLOADS OTHER NESTLÉ BUSINESSES MEDIA INVESTORS SHARE PRICE CHF 121.52 (-0.52%) Follow us on SUB FOOTER MENU © 2021 Nestlé Site map Help Privacy Cookies Terms of use Accessibility RSS Sign me up Unsubscribe Contact us Cookie Consent