Why Do Good People Do Bad Things?
Human psychology reveals the answer
The Baby Milk Scandal that came to light in the 1970s revealed the depths some corporations are willing to go to generate profits. Nestlé and other multinational milk companies enticed mothers in poor communities to use milk solution, by giving it to them for free. They did so using sales reps dressed up as nurses. The uniforms created the illusion the reps were experts, helping to convince the unsuspecting mothers that bottle feeding was better for their babies than breastfeeding.
The mother’s milk soon dried up after they started using the solution. And once the mothers were dependent on the milk, Nestlé charged them for it.
Like drug dealers enticing people with free access to drugs, only to make them addicted, the corporations created a demand where there wasn’t one. After all, what milk could be better than a mother’s?
From Nestlé’s perspective, the decision made business sense and allowed them to maximise returns on their product. As the mothers often couldn’t afford the solution, it also led to infant illness and death.
The backlash against Nestlé was ferocious and led to an international campaign to boycott their products.
