Solidarite Morisyin Ar Lepep Palestinn (SOMALP) notes with concern the attempt of Nestlé, a multinational food and beverage company that is profiting from the genocide of the Palestinian people, to infiltrate public schools through the free distribution of its products, namely Milo during extra-curricular activities like sports events.
Nestlé is a major stakeholder in Osem, an Israeli food manufacturer operating in Occupied Palestine. With the ongoing genocide and daily massacres carried out by the Israeli army (IDF) in Gaza, we invite all people to avoid Nestle products until the IDF cease all military operations in Occupied Palestine.
In addition, Nestlé has a poor track record when it comes to public health. In the 1970s, the declining rates of breastfeeding in developing countries was mainly due to the unethical marketing practices of breast milk substitute manufacturers including Nestlé and in April 2024, the Swiss investigative organization, Public Eye, released a report where Nestlé was criticized for adding sugar to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries while the same products sold in Europe contained no sugar at all.
SOMALP supports the growing international BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) campaign to end all state, corporate and institutional complicity with Israel’s apartheid genocidal regime. We call on the Mauritian government to stop the distribution of Nestle products in schools.
SOMALP further reiterates its call on the government of the Republic of Mauritius to stop all business dealings with the Israel’s state-owned water company, Mekorot, which is implementing ‘water apartheid’ in Palestine.
SOMALP also reiterates its call on the government of Mauritius to cut all diplomatic ties with Israel and to support South Africa in its ICJ case against Israel.
The scale of murder, destruction and suffering in Palestine is unbearable and, by all means, this must be stopped. Companies which, either directly or indirectly, are complicit or profiting from this state of affairs should be called out. Let us all do our part to end this genocide.
13 June 2024
SOMALP
Regroups: Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC), Conféderation des Travailleurs des Secteurs Publique et Privé (CTSPP), All Workers’ Federation (AWF), Federation of Parastatal Bodies and Other Union (FPBOU), Confederation of General Trade Unions (CGTU), Dr. Idrice Goomany Treatment Centre, Consumer Advocacy Platform (CAP), Association des Consommateurs de l’Ile Maurice (ACIM), Chagos Refugees Group (CRG), Muvman Liberasyon Fam (MLF), LALIT and individual members.
