FAQ

What is Nestlés response to scam emails?
There have been cases of emails sent to individuals or organizations falsely purporting to be from Nestlé or a partner organization of Nestlé. These are scam emails, and will sometimes ask you for information such as a password or user ID and even sums of money in return for more money or other benefits, such as winning a Nestlé competition or promotion in return. These emails sometimes look quite convincing, with a Nestlé or Nestlé brand logo, or coming from an email address that looks as if it could be from Nestlé. In any case, these emails are false and are not at all associated with Nestlé itself or any partner organizations; therefore we strongly suggest that you make sure of the authenticity of such mails (or any other communication) before sending any reply. Nestlé further strongly suggests that you do not send money or any other information; it is simply not Nestlé policy to ask for money or other information in return for winnings, prizes, job interviews or any sort of registration. If you are worried about an email that you have received, please mail us at webmaster@za.nestle.com to help us to become aware of those incidents and take action against these people. You may also inform or ask your internet service provider for advice or help. Return to top

What is Nestlés position on Biofuels?
Nestlé supports sustainable energy use: over the last five years, Nestlé has reduced its energy consumption per tonne of product by 28% and its greenhouse gas emissions by 32%. Nestlé believes that any decision on the use of energy sources must be based on a systematic cost benefit and life cycle analysis, taking into consideration the social and environmental impact, including the effects on food prices and water. The current production of Biofuel relies on the extensive use of crops such as maize and wheat. This has already led to significant price increases and will, in the long term, create food shortages for millions of consumers from lower-income groups for whom basic foodstuffs need to be affordable. The large scale expansion of these agricultural raw materials for Biofuel production will aggravate the problem of water scarcity, as every liter of Biofuel made from irrigated maize or soybeans requires between 500 and 5,000 liters of water. Agriculture already uses 70% of available water sources. Furthermore, depending on crop type and geography, CO2 savings compared to fossil fuel can be very small, in some cases only 10%. Return to top

Nestlé and Lactalis
Nestlé S.A. and Lactalis jointly state that they remain fully committed to the planned common business in the chilled dairy sector, as announced in December of 2005. Both companies believe that the creation of a European venture in the yoghurt and chilled dessert sector will ultimately benefit consumers through increased innovation. After filing with the anti-trust authorities of the European Union at the end of June 2006, and as a result of discussions between the companies and the Commission, the companies were informed that some changes were required. As a procedural matter, Nestlé and Lactalis decided to withdraw the filing and to resubmit a modified proposal to the Commission in mid-August 2006. The amendments will not significantly affect the core sectors of the common business. Nestlé and Lactalis remain confident that a positive outcome can be expected and look forward to concluding the operation. Return to top

Is it right that Nestlé profits from selling bottled water?
Many people consider bottled water to be an example of companies making profits on what should be public property. First, Nestlé Waters may be the worlds largest bottled water company, but it still uses only 0.0009% (less than one millionth) of total fresh water consumed worldwide, while Nestlé as a whole - including food manufacturing - uses only 0.005%. Nestlé is therefore not a significant factor in the global access-to-water debate: agriculture uses 70% of total available fresh water, industry 20% and domestic users 10%. The price of bottled water is closer to that of other bottled drinks than to tap water because it includes the same expenses incurred by all bottled drinks producers: the actual cost of the water, ensuring water purity, providing sterile bottles, ensuring a clean bottling process and, finally, all logistical costs. Return to top

What are trans-fatty acids?
Trans fatty acids (TFA) are a specific form of fat formed when liquid oils are turned into solids such as shortening and hard margarine in a process known as partial hydrogenization. According to Western European dietary data, half of TFA consumed occur naturally in foods such as milk and meat products. The rest comes principally from oil and fats (19%), or prepared foods such as bakery goods (13%), chips, French fries, pizzas and other savoury pies. Why are they bad? Eating TFA can result in undesirable effects on blood cholesterol (raising LDL, or bad cholesterol; lowering HDL, or good cholesterol) and thus could potentially have a bad impact on heart health. What is Nestlé doing about TFA? Nestlé considers that the reduction of TFA in prepared food products is important and has been committed since 1993 to reduce TFA in prepared food products. In a normal consumption pattern, TFA intake would not exceed 3% of the total fat in foods, or 1% of the daily total energy intake as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Priority was given to reduce TFA in products which are consumed by children and to products containing higher levels of TFA such as soups, snacks, pizzas, ready-made meals and certain confectionery items. (Nestlé has relatively few products such as oils, meat products, cheese, bakery goods, and butter which are principal sources of TFA). Since 2002, Nestlé has reduced the use of trans fatty acids in its product portfolio by more than 25,000 tonnes. Compliance with the TFA reduction policy is audited in our businesses globally. By end 2006, 95% of Nestlés product range complied with the policy. Return to top

Nestlé websites
Where can I get a full list of all the Nestlé Worldwide sites? Please go to Nestlé Addresses for a full list of all our worldwide sites. Return to top

Nestlé investment policies in the Middle East
What are Nestlé investment policies in the Middle East? In response to various enquiries on Nestlé Group corporate policy with regard to the conflict in the Near East, Nestlé states that as a truly global company it operates in almost all countries in the world, employing some 250 000 people of more than 100 nationalities and of many creeds. Nestlé has consistently emphasized the importance of mutual respect and tolerance, regardless of culture, religion or nationality. Guided by these principles, the Groups investment decisions have always been based only on commercial and industrial viability, excluding political considerations. This is how we have invested, among other countries elsewhere in the world, in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Israel and further in Pakistan and Indonesia, demonstrating all the time respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. In each and everyone of these countries the Company serves the needs of its consumers, as well as the interests of its local staff. Return to top

What is Nestlé’s position on the European "traffic lights" scheme of food labelling?
Nestlé is opposed to an introduction of the "traffic lights" or other similar schemes which focus only on negative nutrients. A "green", "yellow", "red" light approach to the nutritional merits of a food does not help place the food in the context of an individuals needs nor in the context of a balanced, varied and moderate diet, the key to good health. Furthermore, traffic light schemes do not encourage step by step product improvement, since only major reductions of a negative nutrient would change a traffic light status. Nestlé is introducing the Nutritional Compass on all its products worldwide to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions with a focus on Nutrition. As part of the forthcoming revision of the EU Nutrition Labelling Directive, expected to commence in 2007, we will participate with all other stakeholders in identifying ways to best communicate relevant nutrition information to consumers. Return to top

Infant Formula
What are Nestlés infant formula business practices in the Developing World? Nestlé conforms to the spirit and the letter of the WHO Code on marketing breast milk substitutes. Return to top

Nestlé Products Worldwide
Are Nestlé products identical throughout the world? No. Nestlé encourages its national operations to adapt products locally, in order to respect the local, regional and national habits and the tastes, cultural and religious backgrounds of consumers as well as their purchasing power. While all products must correspond to our quality requirements, they vary extensively in composition, recipe, packaging and branding. Are there countries in which Nestlé products are not available? Not to our knowledge. How do you ensure that quality standards are respected in all countries? Through a three-tiered quality control system that encompasses the careful selection of raw materials, the production process and distribution up to the point of sale. Factory laboratories, regional quality control laboratories and central quality control work together to make sure that our products are safe and of good quality. Why can't I buy certain Nestlé products in my country? Our local Companies decide whether a given product has the potential to be successful in their market in light of consumption habits, taste and cultural background. In many cases, this is a question of potential sales volumes. If the market is too small, or if the local distribution system will not permit the product to be sold in good condition, the local subsidiary won't put the product on the market. Moreover, local legislation can make it impossible for a given product to be sold in certain markets. Return to top

Confectionery, allergies & nuts
People eat confectionery for pleasure, why do you use ingredients that can cause allergies? Simply it is almost impossible to avoid ingredients which can cause allergies. There are more than 160 different foods in the world known to cause allergies, but 90% of the problems are caused by eight specific foods (cow's milk, peanuts, treenuts, wheat, eggs, soya, fish and crustaceans). With the exception of the seafood items, these ingredients are common in almost all prepared foods, confectionery included. Why do you use peanuts and treenuts in confectionery? Nuts go really well in confectionery. Whether they are included in chocolate, biscuits or candies, well-roasted nuts are always felt by consumers to add to the enjoyment of eating our confectionery products. Nut containing confectionery is popular throughout the world: in North America the preference tends to be for peanuts; whereas in the rest of the world hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, pecans and macadamias are very popular. Return to top

How many people suffer from allergies?
This is quite difficult to measure precisely. Many people believe they suffer from food allergies and do not. Medical estimates seem to be that about 1-2% of adults and 4-6% of children suffer from true food allergies (based on food challenge and immunological testing). While the information is stronger from developed countries, food allergies occur in people from all countries, although the precise degree of response to different foods seems to vary from place to place. The level of food allergy in the population seems to be highest in early childhood, but many children seem to grow out of their reactions to cows milk and eggs. Unfortunately some food allergies and this includes those to peanuts and treenuts, once present tend to last a lifetime. What happens when people are allergic to a food? Food allergy involves a response of the bodys immune system to the protein in a food the consumer has eaten. To be able to react in this way the body has to be sensitized to a food and produce antibodies to it. Then, when you eat the food the antibodies kick in and they try to attack the food. This can result in lots of different symptoms – stomach upsets (vomiting, diarrhea, nausea), or skin reactions (rashes, dermatitis, itching or swelling), or respiratory problems (sneezing, rhinitis or asthma). But worst of all, for some really unfortunate people, a severe and rapid reaction called anaphylaxis can occur. Here, several symptoms occur, the throat can swell and close plus there is a dramatic drop in blood pressure. Without urgent medical treatment some people can die from this extreme allergic reaction. It seems that young food allergic persons suffering from asthma are at highest risk of dying from an anaphylactic shock. Return to top

How much do allergic people need to eat before they get an allergic reaction to a food?
No safe levels have been suggested as yet, but the amounts causing a reaction can be very small indeed. How do you manage food allergies? There is no cure for food allergies; prevention has to be based on avoidance. The susceptible person must exclude foods containing the things they are allergic to from their diet. Food manufacturers and handlers are responsible for adequate and accurate food labelling. This involves either working in an environment that is free from a particular allergen, using specific efforts to avoid the inadvertent presence of critical allergens or precautionary labelling. Why do you need to use precautionary labelling for nuts? Most people like to enjoy a variety of their favourite confectionery products with a range of different flavours and textures all from their favourite brand(s). But the equipment used to make confectionery is highly specialized and all the variants usually have to be made on the same equipment. With the popularity of nut containing products this means that varieties of product with and without nuts have to be made together. In these circumstances, it is virtually impossible to guarantee that small pieces of nut cannot be carried over from one lot of production to another. The only safe way to deal with this is to add a line to the ingredient list saying that even the products without nuts in their recipe may contain nut traces. This makes sure that anyone who suffers from an allergy to nuts can avoid the product if they wish. Return to top

How do consumers know which products are nut-free and which are not?
It is Nestlés policy to put a full ingredients list on all their confectionery products and where nuts are used in a recipe this will always be declared. In each market the Nestlé Consumer Services Department has access to the technical details of all our products and are willing to help consumers with all their product needs. They can reply to enquiries about nutritional data, Halaal or Kosher status as well as the presence or absence of any allergy-causing ingredient (including nuts, milk, Soya or eggs). Return to top

Is Nestlé Chocolate Halaal?
Nestlé chocolates are made to a variety of recipes around the world, but overall their ingredients are very similar and are strictly controlled. The basic composition of chocolate is mixture of cocoa products, milk and sugar bound together with an emulsifier (see below). The vegetable fat used is the fat from cocoa beans (called cocoa butter); in some chocolates, part of this may be replaced by other vegetable fats (most frequently a tropical fat like palm oil, shea butter or sal). A minor fat based component in Nestlé chocolate is the emulsifier; this is normally lecithin from soybeans, and is always of vegetable origin. The only non-vegetable fat used in chocolate is milk fat (from cows milk). All of these fats are obtained from reputable suppliers and to strict quality specifications to ensure that the Nestlé chocolate made from them will be of the best quality and very enjoyable to eat. Should you want to have more information about the contents of a specific Nestlé chocolate product, then you can get this from the ingredients list on the packaging. Should this be insufficient for your needs, then please contact the local Nestlé Consumer Services address or telephone number shown on the product packaging. They will provide you with the further detail you are looking for. You can also email us here. Dark Chocolate This is based on a combination of cocoa products and sugar. A very small proportion of milk fat (2-4%) may be added, as may some other vegetable fats (up to 5%). Soy-based lecithin is then used to emulsify the ingredients. Milk Chocolate This is similar to dark chocolate but to give a good creamy/milky taste more milk products are added. These can include whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, milk fat, whey powder, lactose powder, or milk protein. Soy-based lecithin is then used to emulsify the ingredients. White Chocolate Is a combination of milk products, cocoa butter and sugar. Up to 5% vegetable fat may be used in addition to cocoa butter and milk fat. Soy-based lecithin is then used to emulsify the ingredients. Compound Chocolate This is a variant on chocolate in which most of the cocoa butter in the formulation is replaced by another vegetable fat and less cocoa materials are used. Compound can also be made in dark, milk or white versions by varying the cocoa and milk content as described above. Return to top

Is Nestlé a Swiss Company?
Yes, the Company is chartered in Switzerland and therefore subject to Swiss company law. Our headquarters are in Switzerland (in Vevey, on Lake Geneva), we do report our consolidated accounts in Swiss francs (CHF) and about one third of our shareholders are Swiss. However, only about 2% of the Company's sales are recorded in Switzerland and a vast majority of Nestlé staff and assets are located outside the country. Return to top

What is the Nestlé S.A. address?
Nestlé S.A. 192 Bram Fischer Drive Randburg 2194 JHB RSA Return to top

What is Nestlés commitment to Nutrition, Health and Wellness?
Food has entered a new phase - it has gone from fuel through enjoyment and pleasure, and today's consumer is looking for something more - an improved nutritional value. We aim to be able to give consumers the products they need for a healthy lifestyle. We encourage a balanced, healthy diet and make products that fit into this; we are committed to increasing the nutritional value of our products while improving taste and pleasure. Return to top

How can I get current financial information about Nestlé?
Please visit the Investor Relations section of our site. Return to top

How can I get Management Report for Nestlé?
Click here to go to the Management Report for Nestlé S.A. (S.A. = Societe Anonyme). If you require a hard copy you can click on the tab order. Nestlé USA is owned by Nestlé S.A. of Vevey, Switzerland. There is no annual report for Nestlé in the US. Return to top

Will Nestlé sell Alcon in order to concentrate on food and beverages?
Nestlé sees no reason to divest a company that is performing better than the food and beverage sector. Alcon was acquired in 1977 for approximately USD 275 million. At the time, Alcon's sales were around USD 80 million compared with today, approximately USD 4.9 billion (2006). Return to top

How does Nestlé demonstrate concern for the environment?
Nestlés aim is to become a world leader in environmental performance. Please see our environmental section for detailed information on how we are achieving this aim. Return to top

How can I contact Nestlé Consumer Services?
Please send us an email or call us - selecting your country of residence will forward your mail to your local Consumer Services operation. We receive millions of contacts from consumers all around the world each year, and we try to answer everyone within 48 hours or two working days (holiday periods excepted). We hope to be able to serve you with a satisfactory answer. Return to top

How much does Nestlé spend on Research and Development?
Nestlé spent CHF 1.7 bn on research and development in 2006. Our R&D operations are spread worldwide to combine global scale with local relevance. Our network begins with the Nestlé Research Center near Lausanne, Switzerland; we have 18 product technology and R&D centers worldwide, with more than 280 Application Groups in our individual operating companies. In addition, we have more than 300 contracts with universities and other partners in basic research. Return to top

What are Nestlés main areas of activity?
Nestlé, throughout its history, has been very focused on food and beverages. The only real diversification came during 1977, with the acquisition of Alcon Laboratories Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, a pharmaceutical company specializing in eye care. A few years earlier, Nestlé had taken a minority interest in L’Oréal, the world's leading cosmetics producer. Nestlé considers this a strategic participation. Return to top

How can you guarantee that your milk is not adulterated?
We have a very close relationship with our milk producers and advise them continuously on the quality of milk production. Nestlé has the same stringent quality control system in place in its factories in South Africa as in any other part of the world. Over 70 different tests are routinely conducted in the course of producing infant formula and other milk products.

What is the danger of accidentally consuming melamine?
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, melamine is not classified as cancer causing, nor does it cause birth defects. However high level of melamine can form crystals in the kidney, causing kidney failure, urinary stones, and obstruction of the urinary system.

Are milk and milk products of Nestlé safe?
Yes, Gold Cross SCM and all Nestlé Dairy products are safe for consumption.

What has Nestlé South Africa done in the light of recent developments in China?
Melamine is a contaminant which is widely present in the food and feed chain. This can contribute to the presence of low levels in food products which do not pose a health risk. Nestlé is aware of this and has been conducting ongoing tests on finished products and raw materials since recent developments in China around this issue. Nestlé will not release product to the market should it find that the levels of melamine exceed the internationally accepted norms.

How credible are Nestlé’s testing methods and quality systems?
Nestlé’s testing methods meet recognized international standards as part of our Quality assurance system. Nestlé applies very strict quality control measures and risk assessment at all levels of our raw material sourcing and manufacturing process.

Do our products contain melamine?
In general terms, melamine is found throughout the natural food cycle across the world in minute traces which do not represent any health risk for consumers. This is why the EU and the US have legislation setting limits for melamine in food.

What about the safety and quality of Nestlé’s products?
The safety and quality of our products are non-negotiable priorities for Nestlé. Our company proactively, quickly and voluntarily acts in the interest of consumer safety.For any queries, please contact Consumer Services on 086 009 6116.