Nestle India responds: 'Reducing sugars in baby food' following critical report
PTC News Desk : A recent report has uncovered high levels of added sugar and honey in Nestle's prominent baby food brands - Cerelac, targeted at children aged between six months and two years, and Nido, a follow-up milk formula intended for infants aged one and above.
Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, conducted the study and found elevated sugar contents in Nestle's brands marketed in low and middle-income countries, contradicting international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases.
In India alone, where sales exceeded 250 million dollars in 2022, all Cerelac baby cereals were discovered to contain added sugar, averaging nearly 3 grams per serving, according to the study.
Responding to the findings, a spokesperson from Nestle India stated that the company has been progressively reducing added sugars by up to 30 per cent over the past five years.
"We believe in the nutritional quality of our products for early childhood and prioritise using high-quality ingredients. Over the past 5 years, Nestle India has reduced added sugars by up to 30 per cent, depending on the variant in our infant cereals' portfolio (milk cereal-based complementary food). We regularly review our portfolio and continue to innovate and reformulate our products to further reduce levels of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety, and taste," the spokesperson affirmed.
The report also revealed the levels of added sugar in Nestle's baby food products across various countries:
Thailand: 6 grams
Ethiopia: 5 grams
South Africa: 4 grams
Brazil: average of 3 grams
Indonesia: 2 grams
Mexico: 1.7 grams
Nigeria, Senegal: 1 gram
Interestingly, products aimed at toddlers in the Philippines were found to contain no added sugar. Similarly, no added sugar was detected in formulas for young children in Nestle's primary European markets, including the UK. While some cereals targeted at older toddlers contained added sugar, products intended for babies between six months and one year were free from it.
These findings emerged after campaigners from Public Eye sent samples of Nestle's baby food products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing. The results, coupled with an examination of product packaging, revealed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido and Cerelac.
According to guidelines from the World Health Organization for the European region, no added sugars or sweetening agents should be permitted in any food for children under three years old.
- With inputs from agencies
