A recent investigation conducted by Public Eye, a Swiss organization, in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), has shed light on concerning disparities in the sugar content of Nestle's baby-food brands across different countries. While Nestle's products marketed for infants in developed nations like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland boast sugar-free formulations, those sold in India, Ethiopia, Thailand, and other developing countries contain significant amounts of added sugar.
The study uncovered that in India, every serving of Cerelac baby products contains an average of nearly 3 grams of added sugar. This stands in stark contrast to the sugar-free versions available in Germany and the UK, and products in Ethiopia and Thailand which contain almost 6 grams per serving.
The report highlights Nestle's practice of adding sugar to infant milk and cereal products in certain regions, despite international guidelines advocating for the avoidance of excessive sugar consumption among infants to prevent obesity and related health issues. Notably, such violations were found predominantly in Asian, African, and Latin American countries.
In response to these findings, a spokesperson for Nestle India Ltd acknowledged efforts to reduce the total amount of added sugars in their infant cereals portfolio by 30% over the past five years. The company asserts its commitment to continuously reviewing and reformulating products to further reduce sugar content while emphasizing the nutritional quality of their offerings for early childhood development.
Recent media coverage, including a report by The Guardian, has drawn attention to Nestle's practice of adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in "poorer countries." Data compiled by Public Eye and IBFAN examined 115 products across Nestle's main markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, revealing widespread inclusion of added sugar in brands such as Cerelac and Nodi.
In India specifically, Public Eye's investigation found that all Cerelac baby cereal products analyzed contained added sugar, averaging nearly 3 grams per serving. These revelations have sparked criticism, with WHO expert Nigel Rollins denouncing the double standard in sugar content between products marketed for infants in different regions as unjustifiable.
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