Health Experts Raise Concerns Over High Sugar Content in Nestle Baby Products Across India, Latin America, and Africa

Nestle is in a bitter pickle after a report revealed inequalities in its baby food’s sugar content.

19 April 2024

By Khushi Maheshwari

An investigation by Swiss NGO Public Eye and IBFAN (International Baby Food Action Network) revealed that Nestle amplifies its sugar content in formula milk sold in more underdeveloped countries but not in its major markets like the United Kingdom and Europe. 

The report analysed and examined approximately 150 baby products from some countries across the globe. It accused Nestle of adding more sugar in the products that sell in South Asian countries, including India and other underdeveloped or developing countries like those in Africa and Latin America. 

In India, the added sugar content for cerelac on average is about 3 grams in every serve. However, the added sugar was mentioned in the packaging in India, while in the Philippines no mention of the exorbitantly high sugar levels was given on the package. 5 out of 8 samples had 7.3 grams of sugar in every serve. 

As per a Nestle India spokesperson, the company makes sure that their products that are made in India adhere to the local specifications wherever necessary and CODEX, a commission set up by the WHO and FAO regarding the requirements of all nutrients, including added sugars. 

He added that reducing the added sugar content is a top concern for Nestle India, explaining how they have already cut down on the content by 30% during the previous 5 years. He also spoke about how they continually innovate and restructure their products to minimise the amount of added sugars without sacrificing flavour, safety, quality or nutrition. Since more than a century, Nestle India has been dedicated to providing the greatest nutrition to their customers, he declared.  

One important point highlighted by Nigel Rollins, a scientist at WHO, told the organisations that conducted the investigation (Public Eye and IBFAN) that it is very hypocritical of Nestle to not add the same level of sugar in countries like Switzerland, but to do so in poorer countries like India. He called it both an ethical and public health issue.