Nestle adds sugar to infant milk sold in poorer countries but not in its main markets in Europe or the UK. This was revealed when Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, and IBFAN (International Baby Food Action Network) sent samples of the company’s baby food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing. In India, where sales surpassed $250 million in 2022, all Cerelac baby cereals contain added sugar, on average nearly 3 grams per serving.
Public Eye’s investigation that was made public Wednesday said Cerelac wheat-based cereals for six-month-old babies sold by Nestle in Germany, France and UK had no added sugar, while the same product contains over 5 gms per serving in Ethiopia and 6 gms in Thailand.
Presented with the findings, Nigel Rollins, a scientist at WHO told Public Eye and IBFAN: “There is a double standard here that can’t be justified.” He added that the fact that Nestle doesn’t add sugar to these products in Switzerland but is quite happy to do it in lower resources settings “is problematic both from a public health & ethical perspective.”
WHO warns that exposure to sugar early in life can create a life-long preference for sugary products increasing the risk of developing obesity and other chronic illnesses, the report said. In 2022, WHO had called for a ban on added sugars and sweeteners in food products for babies, and urged industry to “be proactive” and “support public health goals” by reformulating its products.
Interestingly, Nestle’s website giving advice on nutrition for babies states: “It is not recommended to add sugar when preparing food for your baby, nor to offer him sugary drinks. Some leading nutrition and health experts suggest that fruit juices should not be introduced in the first year because of their relatively high natural sugar content. …Avoid juice drinks or other mixed drinks, which have added sweeteners. Always check the label.” This doesn’t seem to apply to its own products sold in low and middle income countries.
Though Nestle did not respond to questions from Public Eye and IBFAN about the double standard, it stated that it “has reduced by 11% the total amount of added sugars in infant cereal portfolio worldwide” over the past decade and that it will “further reduce the level of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety and taste”.
When contacted by TOI, a Nestle India spokesperson said, “Over the past 5 years, Nestle India has reduced added sugars by up to 30%… in our infant cereals portfolio”. The spokesperson added, “We regularly review our portfolio and continue to innovate and reformulate our products to further reduce the levels of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety and taste.”