"Sweet Deception: Nestlé's Sugar Practices in Infant Foods Across the Globe"

 

A recent report by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, has shed light on Nestlé's practices regarding sugar content in its infant milk and cereal products sold in many lower-income countries. Contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases, Nestlé has been found to add sugar and honey to these products.

 

The investigation involved sending samples of Nestlé's baby-food products from regions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing. The results revealed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years.

 

Interestingly, in Nestlé's main European markets, such as the UK, there is no added sugar in formulas for young children. While some cereals aimed at older toddlers may contain added sugar, products targeted at babies between six months and one year are free from added sugar.

 

Public Eye's Laurent Gaberell emphasized the need for Nestlé to eliminate these double standards and cease adding sugar to all products intended for children under three years old worldwide.

 

The issue of childhood obesity is increasingly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of overweight children under five in Africa has risen by nearly 23% since 2000, contributing to a global obesity epidemic affecting over 1 billion people.

 

 

One challenge for consumers globally is discerning whether a product contains added sugar and its quantity solely based on nutritional information printed on packaging. WHO guidelines for the European region advocate for no added sugars or sweetening agents in any food for children under three, a recommendation echoed by the UK and US government guidelines for younger children.

 

Public Eye's report, in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network, highlighted significant sales figures for Cerelac, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Brazil and India, where it exceeds $1 billion. However, variations in sugar content were evident between countries.

 

In response to the report, a Nestlé spokesperson emphasized the nutritional quality of their products and their compliance with local regulations and international standards. They noted efforts to reduce added sugars in their infant cereals portfolio by 11% worldwide over the past decade and ongoing reformulation efforts to further reduce sugar content.

 

While Nestlé acknowledges variations in recipes based on factors like regulation and ingredient availability, the call for consistency in sugar content across all regions remains a central concern raised by the report.