Danone’s Nutricia unit in bribery claims in India, China

French dairy giant Danone’s advanced medical nutrition unit, Nutricia, has been said to be paying Indian and Chinese doctors to promote and prescribe its baby nutrition products over the last few years. Nutricia sales representatives are alleged to have paid the Indian equivalent of €180 each to doctors in India, in addition to other items for
doctors’ surgeries. Meanwhile, Nutricia had an internal investigation in China where its infant milk formula group was the subject of bribery allegations. It is alleged that doctors at 14 Chinese hospitals in Beijing received gifts and travel, to the equivalent total of €36,700. Danone acquired the business in July 2012.