Brand Reputations and Food Scares
23rd September 2008 by Alex Briggs
The melamine scare that has engulfed China has spilled over into the rest of the world. Nestle spent yesterday responding to media reports that there were concerns with Nestle Growing Up Milk, a product that seeks to bridge a toddler’s move from mother’s milk to cow’s milk.
Nestle has been very proactive and firm in denying the reports that have appeared in Hong Kong media, stating “”Nestle is confident that none of its products in China is made from milk adulterated with melamine.”
The media reports do not contain any concrete information or findings, and Nestle was quick to point out, “”Chinese authorities have issued official certificates for all tested Nestle products stating that no melamine has been detected in any of them.”
In their press release, Nestle cited their stringent quality control system as its internal safeguard against possible contamination. The German proverb, “Trust is good, control is better” is beginning to become the norm for a very nervous food safety industry.
The issue has highlighted that even being in the wrong place at the wrong time can cause massive damage to a global brand’s reputation. Can today’s brands afford anything less than complete transparency throughout their supply chain?
