One of the world’s largest food and beverage company Nestle, adds sugar to infant food products sold in poorer countries like Asia (including India), Africa and Latin America, however, in Switzerland – where Nestlé is headquartered – such products are sold with no added sugar.
This allegation came into limelight in a report by a Swiss NGO, Public Eye, Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN).
Why is Nestle under fire for adding sugar in Baby products?
In 2022, the World Health Organization (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.
Cerelac manufactured by Nestle specifically for newborns under six months old, which is available in the UK and Germany, claims to have no added sugars, while its Indian equivalent has 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving. Surprisingly, Thailand had the highest sugar level of all the goods tested — six grams.
According to the public eye, the sugar content of the same Cerelac wheat product in different countries is:
- Thailand – 6.0 g
- Ethiopia – 5.2 g
- South Africa – 4.0 g
- Pakistan – 2.7 g
- India – 2.2 g
- United Kingdom – 0.0 g
- German – 0.0 g
Here’s what Nestle’s has to say
The spokesperson said, “Reduction of added sugars is a priority for Nestlé India. Over the past five years, we have already reduced added sugars by up to 30 per cent, depending on the variant. We regularly review our portfolio and continue to innovate and reformulate our products to further reduce the level of added sugars, without compromising on nutrition, quality, safety and taste.”
The spokesman added, “Compliance is an essential characteristic of Nestlé India and we will never compromise on that. We also ensure that our products manufactured in India are in full and strict compliance with CODEX standards (a commission established by WHO and FAO) and local specifications (as required) pertaining to the requirements of all nutrients including added sugars.” Infant cereal products, the spokesman explained, “are manufactured to ensure the appropriate delivery of nutritional requirements such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, iron etc. for early childhood. We never compromise and will never compromise on the nutritional quality of our products. We constantly leverage our extensive global research and development network to enhance the nutritional profile of our products.”
Why it can bring more troubles for Nestle?
Consuming too much sugar can also lead to weight gain, obesity, and an increased chance of developing chronic illnesses including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer in later life.
“High sugar consumption in infancy is also linked to an increased risk of dental caries [tooth decay] and poor nutrient intake, as sugary foods often replace more nutritious options in a child’s diet,” Dr. Richa Chaturvedi, senior consultant in endocrinology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi told The Indian Express.
Following the controversy, Nestle India shares plummeted 5.4% to a day’s low of ₹2,409.55 on BSE.
Shares of Nestle fell marking the worst single-day drop in the last 3 years after the report.
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