Scandinavian Airlines, known as SAS, has taken Nesquik chocolate drink off its in-flight menu. This decision follows criticism of the product’s manufacturer, Nestlé, which has been labeled a sponsor of war by certain observers. The report that spurred the move came from a Norwegian television channel, TV2.
“We can confirm that, in light of Nestlé’s inclusion on the Ukrainian sanctions list, Nesquik chocolate drink has been removed from our onboard product range”, SAS stated when approached by reporters.
Reports indicate that SAS did not stop at Nesquik alone. The airline also cut items from the menus produced by Mondelez, the maker of Barney Bears, and by Pepsi, citing the same concerns about the companies’ roles in the conflict.
Nestlé, a Swiss company, was added to the list of international war sponsors in early November. In Ukraine, the rationale for the designation centered on the company’s continued presence in the Russian market after the start of the conflict, coupled with attempts to expand business there by supplying equipment to the Russian Federation under discreet arrangements.
Earlier, a German company, Knauf, was placed on the same list of war sponsors, reflecting a broader pattern of attention to corporate activity perceived as supporting ongoing military actions.