In the 1970's, Nestlé (a company out of Switzerland) came into trouble when they decided to break into the baby food industry. The problems that they faced were with the deaths of third world infants whose deaths were directly related to the baby formulas that Nestle produced. They were accused of "hard-selling their products to people incapable of using the product properly."" (International Marketing, Case 1-3 page 617) This incapability to using the product properly was nothing more than the lack of common sense. As a result from this stupidity, Nestlé was struck with a global boycott and various rules and regulations that the WHO (World Health Organization) set into place. .
There were several problems with the use of their product in third world countries, the first of which was the case of malnutrition as a result of only using the baby formulas. Parents would apparently dilute the formula in order to stretch the supply. "For a four-month baby, one can of formula should have lasted just under three days. The mother said that one can lasted two weeks to feed both children."" (International Marketing, Case 1-3 page 617) This would of course pose as a problem because the infants were not receiving the nutrients that their body needed. Another problem was that they were using contaminated water from the river. This would cause the babies to have attacks of vomiting and diarrhea. Another problem was that mothers were substituting the formula for breast feeding. This was blamed on the apparent direct selling and advertisements that apparently persuaded mothers to take this action. "Clever radio jingles extol the wonders of the white man's power that will make baby grow and glow.- (International Marketing, Case 1-3 page 617).
Nestlé received most of the blame and the correction from the WHO even though they were not the only company that provided baby formulas for infants.
