Double standards of Nestle: adds ‘no sugar’ for Europe, contain sugar in other nations

A report has revealed that international baby food products Nestle adds no sugar in the products distributed in European nations, while its products contain added sugar in Low-Income-Countries including India.  However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has clearly recommended significantly reducing the amount of sugar in the diets of young children, particularly to combat obesity. 

Reportedly, Nestle’s product Cerelac baby cereal for children aged six months and older contains six grams of sugar per portion—equivalent to approximately one and a half sugar cubes per meal In South Africa. However, the words ‘no added sugar’ prominently appear on the packaging of the equivalent product in Switzerland.

A Swiss investigative organisation Public Eye sent samples of the products sold 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 use for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years.

The Public Eye findings was first reported by the Guardian. The report claimed in India, “all Cerelac baby cereals contain added sugar, on average nearly three grams per serving.”

“Public Eye and IBFAN scrutinised around 150 products sold by the food giant in lower-income countries. Almost all the Cerelac infant cereals examined contain added sugar – nearly 4 grams per serving on average, equal to roughly a sugar cube – although they are targeted at babies from six months of age,” a press statement on Public Eye’s website added.