Student Organizations Demand Boycott of Nestle Co. Products

Several student organizations are calling for a Harvard Food Services Department boycott of Nestle Company products, following this week's circulation of a petition by Lowell House students asking that Food Services not renew its contact with Nestle.

B. Corey Stone Jr. '79-3, one of the authors of the petition, said the boycott is necessary because "Nestles sells infant formula to women in underdeveloped countries. These women lack the economic resources, technical sophistication, and sanitary facilities to use it effectively and safely."

Daniel A. Lashof '80, president of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, said his organization's international affairs subcommittee will support the boycott proposal. He said the democratic socialists will work in conjunction with the Hunger Action Project, a student group which is also supporting the boycott.

The Mather House Committee passed a resolution Wednesday night supporting the boycott.

Daniel Cohn '79, a Lowell House representative on the Committee on Houses and Undergraduate Life (CHUL), said Benjamin Walcott, assistant director of Food Services, has agreed to postpone the renewal of a long-term contract with Nestles in order to give CHUL and other House committees time to vote on the boycott issue.

Walcott was unavailable for comment yesterday, but Frank J. Weissbecker, director of Food Services, said he does not plan to put off the contract renewal.

The CHUL Food Committee will consider the boycott proposal at its October 16 meeting.

Cohn said that House committees will be voting on the boycott early next week. He added, "We are hoping for an endorsement from political groups. The boycott is starting to pick up speed, and I am optimistic about student support."