nestle cerelac case study

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Nestlé accused of double standards over added sugar in baby products sold in poorer countries

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• Jacqui Thornton

Baby food manufacturer Nestlé has been accused of “unjustifiable” double standards after an investigation found that it added high levels of sugar to cereals for children sold in lower income countries.

In contrast, infant formula and cereal sold in Switzerland, where the company has its headquarters, contained no added sugar, the investigation by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) found. 1

The campaigning organisations examined Cerelac and Nido products marketed in lower income countries. Cerelac is the world’s number one baby cereal brand, with sales exceeding $1bn in 2022, according to global market research company Euromonitor.

The Public Eye and IBFAN investigation found that in Senegal and South Africa, Cerelac biscuit flavoured cereals contained 6 g of added sugar a serving. In Switzerland, Nestlé promotes its similarly flavoured cereals for babies aged from 6 months with the claim they contain “no added sugar.”

Cerelac wheat based cereals for 6 month old babies are also sold by Nestlé in Germany and the UK with no added sugar, while the same product contains over 5 g a serving in Ethiopia and 6 g in Thailand.

Nigel Rollins, scientist at the World Health Organization, when presented the findings said, “There is a double standard here that can’t be justified.” He added the fact that Nestlé does not add sugar to its products in Switzerland but is quite happy to do it in lower resources settings “is problematic from both a public health and ethical perspective.” He said that manufacturers may try to get children accustomed to a certain level of sugar at an early age, so that they prefer products high in sugar. “This is totally inappropriate,” he stated.

Francesco Branca, director of the department of nutrition and food safety at WHO, told The BMJ , “Eliminating added sugars from food products for young children everywhere would be an important way to implement early prevention of obesity. This study aligns with previous findings from WHO in Europe and stresses the need for urgent action to reshape the food environment for children.”

Tests on 115 products

The investigation team studied 115 products sold in Nestlé’s main markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and carried out laboratory tests on added sugar content—which is often not disclosed on packaging information. In 67 products it was possible to determine the amount of added sugar. On average, products had almost 4 g a serving, or about one sugar cube. The highest amount—7.3 g a serving—was detected in Cerelac Mixed Fruits and Soya Infant Cereal sold in the Philippines and targeted at 6 month old babies.

The team also examined 29 “growing up” milk products sold in low and middle income countries and found that 21 of them (72%) contained added sugar. For 10 of these products, the laboratory was able to determine the amount of added sugar. On average, there were almost 2 g a serving. The maximum value—5.3 g a serving—was detected in a product sold in Panama.

Paediatrician Karen Hofman, professor of public health at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, told the report, “I do not understand why products for sale in South Africa should be different from those that are sold in high income settings. It should not be tolerated.”

The report also criticised Nestlé for its use of influencers and their children in its marketing strategy to boost sales.

In 2022, WHO called for a ban on added sugars and sweeteners in food products for children under the age of 3, and urged the industry to “be proactive” and “support public health goals” by reformulating baby food products. 2

Responding to the investigation, a Nestlé spokesperson said it has reduced the amount of added sugars in its infant cereals portfolio worldwide by 11% and was always transparent about the total sugars they contain.

The spokesperson said, “Nido and Cerelac products are sold in the UK and other European countries. Slight variations in recipes across countries depend on several factors, including regulations and availability of local ingredients, for example, and in no way compromise the quality of our products.

“We continue to innovate and reformulate our infant cereal products in order to further reduce the level of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety, and taste.”

The spokesperson added, “We believe in the nutritional quality of our products for early childhood. We use high quality ingredients adapted to the growth and development of children.”

“Baby food is a highly regulated category. Everywhere we operate, our portfolio complies with local regulations or international standards, including labelling requirements and thresholds on carbohydrate content that encompasses sugars.”

• ↵ Gaberell L, Abede M, Rundall P. How Nestlé gets children hooked on sugar in lower-income countries. April 2024. https://stories.publiceye.ch/nestle-babies/
• ↵ WHO. Supporting appropriate promotion of food products for infants and young children 6-36 months in the WHO European Region. 2022. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/364678/WHO-EURO-2022-6681-46447-67287-eng.pdf

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Report claims Nestle adds 2.7 g sugar in every serving of Cerelac in India: What does this mean for you? 

Experts explain how added sugar can build addictive behaviour in babies.

Global food and beverage giant Nestle sells baby products with higher sugar content in poorer south Asian (including India), African and Latin American countries as compared to markets in Europe, claims a report by a Swiss NGO, Public Eye and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). Around 150 baby products sold in different counties were scrutinised for the report, which found them to contain sugar over and above international food safety guidelines.

According to government officials, lab reports of the Indian samples will be sought from IBFAN and placed before the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for examination.

What does the report say?

The report claims that Nestle’s wheat-based product, Cerelac, for six-month babies, which is sold without any added sugars in the UK and Germany, contained 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving in India. The sugar content was declared on the packaging in India. The highest sugar content was found to be 7.3 grams in samples from the Philippines, where the information was not even declared on the packaging, the report said.

What is Nestle’s defence?

Asked about the implications of the study, a Nestle India spokesperson said, “Reduction of added sugars is a priority. 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.”

On whether it complied with food safety guidelines, the spokesman added, “We 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.”

However, Dr Arun Gupta from the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), which was the India partner for the report, argues, “When you add sugars to baby formula food, babies are much more likely to drink it up because of the pleasing taste. With happy parents purchasing the products, it boosts the bottomline of companies. And they can get by because the regulations are weak,” says

What are added sugars?

Added sugars are sweetening agents such as syrups that are added in processed foods and beverages. This is considered to be more harmful than the naturally occurring sugars found in fruits and milk.

Why are they harmful?

The WHO advises against the introduction of added sugars before the age of two years to prevent addictive eating habits. “This exposure can lead to weight gain, obesity and an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer later in life. Additionally, high sugar consumption in infancy has been associated with an increased risk of dental caries (tooth decay) and poor nutrient intake, as sugary foods often displace more nutritious options in a child’s diet,” says Dr Richa Chaturvedi, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.

What do Indian guidelines say?

They do not prescribe any upper limit for added sugars. The regulations allow use of corn syrup and malt in cereal-based infant food. It also allows the use of sucrose and fructose as a carbohydrate source, provided it makes up less than 20 per cent of the carbohydrates in the food.

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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Nestlé adds sugar to infant milk sold in poorer countries, report finds

Swiss food firm’s infant formula and cereal sold in global south ignore WHO anti-obesity guidelines for Europe, says Public Eye

Nestlé, the world’s largest consumer goods company, adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries, contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases, a report has found.

Campaigners from Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, sent samples of the Swiss multinational’s baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing.

The results, and examination of product packaging, 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.

In Nestlé’s main European markets, including the UK, there is no added sugar in formulas for young children. While some cereals aimed at older toddlers contain added sugar, there is none in products targeted at babies between six months and one year.

Laurent Gaberell, Public Eye’s agriculture and nutrition expert, said: “Nestlé must put an end to these dangerous double standards and stop adding sugar in all products for children under three years old, in every part of the world.”

Obesity is increasingly a problem in low- and middle-income countries . In Africa, the number of overweight children under five has increased by nearly 23% since 2000, according to the World Health Organization. Globally, more than 1 billion people are living with obesity.

It is not always easy for consumers in any country to tell whether a product contains added sugar, and how much is present, based on nutritional information printed on packaging alone. Labels often include naturally occurring sugars in milk and fruit under the same heading as any added sugars.

WHO guidelines for the European region say no added sugars or sweetening agents should be permitted in any food for children under three. While no guidance has been specifically produced for other regions, researchers say the European document remains equally relevant to other parts of the world.

The UK recommends that children under four avoid food with added sugars because of risks including weight gain and tooth decay. US government guidelines recommend avoiding foods and drinks with added sugars for those younger than two.

In its report , written in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network, Public Eye said data from Euromonitor International, a market-research company, revealed global retail sales of above $1bn (£800m) for Cerelac. The highest figures are in low- and middle-income countries, with 40% of sales just in Brazil and India.

Dr Nigel Rollins, a medical officer at the WHO, said the findings represented “a double standard […] that can’t be justified”.

Biscuit-flavoured cereals for babies aged six months and older contained 6g of added sugar for every serving in Senegal and South Africa, researchers found. The same product sold in Switzerland has none.

Tests on Cerelac products sold in India showed, on average, more than 2.7g of added sugar for every serving.

In Brazil, where Cerelac is known as Mucilon, two out of eight products were found to have no added sugar but the other six contained nearly 4g for each serving. In Nigeria, one product tested had up to 6.8g .

Meanwhile, tests on products from the Nido brand, which has worldwide retail sales of more than $1bn, revealed significant variation in sugar levels.

In the Philippines, products aimed at toddlers contain no added sugar. However, in Indonesia, Nido baby-food products, sold as Dancow, all contained about 2g of added sugar per 100g of product in the form of honey, or 0.8g a serving.

In Mexico, two of the three Nido products available for toddlers contained no added sugar, but the third contained 1.7g per serving. Nido Kinder 1+ products sold in South-Africa, Nigeria and Senegal all contained nearly 1g per serving, the report said.

A Nestlé spokesperson said: “We believe in the nutritional quality of our products for early childhood and prioritise using high-quality ingredients adapted to the growth and development of children.”

She said that within the “highly regulated” category of baby food, Nestlé always complied “with local regulations or international standards, including labelling requirements and thresholds on carbohydrate content that encompasses sugars” and declared total sugars in its products, including those coming from honey.

Variations in recipes depended on factors including regulation and availability of local ingredients, she said.

The company has reduced the total amount of added sugars in its infant cereals portfolio by 11% worldwide over the past decade, she said, and continued to reformulate products to reduce them further.

Sucrose and glucose syrup were being phased out of “growing-up milks” aimed at toddlers worldwide, she added.

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Nestle India says ‘cut sugars in baby food in last 5 years’ after damning report

A study has revealed high levels of added sugar in nestle's leading baby food brands, cerelac and nido, being sold in india and some other countries. nestle india has reacted to the report..

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• Nestle's baby food brands found to have high sugar levels
• In India, all Cerelac baby cereals contain added sugar, report says
• Nestle India clarifies it has reduced added sugar over the last 5 years

Nestle India has responded to the questions raised over its adherence to WHO guidelines on added sugar in baby food products after a report found that Cerelac and Nido brands contain high levels of added sugar and honey. Nestle India clarified that over the past 5 years, it has reduced added sugars by up to 30 per cent, depending on the variant in our infant cereals' portfolio.

According to the Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, Nestle's leading baby food brands - Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years, and Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for use for infants aged one and above, contain high levels of added sugar and honey,.

The sugar contents were found in Nestle's brands promoted in low and middle-income countries, the report further revealed. This is contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases.

In India, where sales surpassed 250 million dollars in 2022, all Cerelac baby cereals were found to contain added sugar, on average nearly 3 grams per serving, the study revealed.

NESTLE INDIA'S RESPONSE TO THE REPORT

In a statement, a Nestle India spokesperson said that over the last five years the company has reduced added sugars by up to 30 per cent.

"We would like to assure you that our Infant Cereal products, 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," the statement read.

WHAT REPORT FOUND

• Thailand - 6 grams
• Ethiopia - 5 grams
• South Africa - 4 grams
• Brazil - average 3 grams
• Indonesia - 2 grams
• Mexico - 1.7 grams
• Nigeria, Senegal - 1 gram

In the Philippines, products aimed at toddlers contained no added sugar.

The result also found no added sugar in formulas for young children in Nestle's main European markets, including the UK.

While some cereals aimed at older toddlers were found to contain added sugar, none was found in products targeted at babies between six months and one year.

The results were found after campaigners from Public Eye sent samples of the Swiss multinational's baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing.

The results and examination of product packaging revealed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido and Cerelac.

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Nestle adds sugar to infant milk, cereal products sold in several countries including India, study claims

In india, all 15 cerelac baby products contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving, findings showed..

World's largest consumer goods company Nestle adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products in several countries including India, an investigation by Public Eye claimed. This is in direct violation of international guidelines that focus on preventing obesity and chronic diseases. But the violations were found only in Asian, African, and Latin American countries.

What investigation revealed on baby food brands in India?

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The report claimed that two of the best-selling baby-food brands by Nestle in India contain high levels of added sugar. Meanwhile such products are sugar-free in the United Kingdom, Germany Switzerland, and other developed nations, Public Eye noted. In India, all 15 Cerelac baby products contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving, findings showed. This same product is being sold with no added sugar in Germany and the UK, it added. In Ethiopia and Thailand, the product contains nearly 6 grams of sugar per serving, the study said.

Does Nestle disclose sugar amounts on the packaging labels?

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Added sugar is often not included in the nutritional information available on the packaging of these kinds of products, the report noted, adding, “While Nestle prominently highlights the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients contained in its products using idealizing imagery, it's not transparent when it comes to added sugar.”

What experts say on adding sugar and its effect on babies?

Experts believe that adding sugar to baby products is a dangerous and unnecessary practice as it is very addictive. Rodrigo Vianna, epidemiologist and Professor at the Department of Nutrition of the Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil said as per the report, “This is a big concern. Sugar should not be added to foods offered to babies and young children because it is unnecessary and highly addictive. Children get used to the sweet taste and start looking for more sugary foods, starting a negative cycle that increases the risk of nutrition-based disorders in adult life. These include obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure”

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What nestle said in response to the report.

A Nestle India spokesperson told LiveMint, “Over the past five years, Nestlé India has reduced added sugars by up to 30%, depending on the variant, in our infant cereals portfolio (milk cereal-based complementary food).”

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• Consumer Affairs Min asks FSSAI to probe composition of Nestle's Cerelac baby cereals sold in India

Stressing that compliance is an essential characteristic of Nestle India, the spokesperson said, "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."

• Updated On Apr 19, 2024 at 02:11 PM IST

• Published On Apr 19, 2024 at 02:00 PM IST

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Nestle Adds 3 gm Sugar In Every Serving Of Cerelac Sold In India: Report

Findings showed that in india, all 15 cerelac baby products contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving..

Two of the best-selling baby-food brands by Nestle in India contain high levels of added sugar, while such products are sugar-free in the United Kingdom, Germany Switzerland, and other developed nations, according to an investigation by Public Eye . The report said that Nestle, which is the world's largest consumer goods company, adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products in several countries, a violation of international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases. Violations were found only in Asian, African, and Latin American countries. India has taken note of the report and is examining the charges against the baby-food products.

Sources in the health ministry said that the findings from the study will be presented in front of a scientific panel.

However, a Nestle India Ltd. spokesperson told NDTV Profit that the company has reduced the total amount of added sugars in its infant cereals portfolio by 30% over the past five years and it continues to "review" and "reformulate" products to reduce them further. "We believe in the nutritional quality of our products for early childhood and prioritise using high-quality ingredients," it said in a statement.

Findings showed that in India, all 15 Cerelac baby products contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving. The same product is being sold with no added sugar in Germany and the UK, while in Ethiopia and Thailand, it contains nearly 6 grams, the study said.  

The amount of added sugar is often not even disclosed in the nutritional information available on the packaging of these kinds of products.

"While Nestle prominently highlights the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients contained in its products using idealizing imagery, it's not transparent when it comes to added sugar," the report said.

Nestle sold over Rs 20,000-Crore worth of Cerelac products in India in 2022.

Experts say that adding sugar, which is highly addictive, to baby products is a dangerous and unnecessary practice.

"This is a big concern. Sugar should not be added to foods offered to babies and young children because it is unnecessary and highly addictive," says Rodrigo Vianna, epidemiologist and Professor at the Department of Nutrition of the Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil.

"Children get used to the sweet taste and start looking for more sugary foods, starting a negative cycle that increases the risk of nutrition-based disorders in adult life. These include obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure," he added.

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Fssai seeks nestle’s explanation on report of added sugar in cerelac.

“The Fssai has taken cognisance of the matter and has sought an explanation from Nestle India,” said a senior official from the national foods sector regulator. The authority held a meeting of its officials on Thursday to evaluate the matter.

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15 Cerelac products analysed from India contained 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving on average

New Delhi : The Consumer Affairs Ministry on Friday said it has asked the food safety regulator FSSAI to investigate the composition of Nestle’s Cerelac baby cereals sold in India, amid a global report that claimed the company was adding higher sugar content in the product.

According to findings by Swiss NGO, Public Eye and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), Nestle sold baby products with higher sugar content in less developed South Asian countries including India, Africa and Latin American nations as compared to markets in Europe.

“We have written to the FSSAI to take cognizance of the report on Nestle’s baby product,” Consumer Affairs Secretary and Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) chief Nidhi Khare told PTI.

In the letter written to FSSAI, Khare said it has come to the notice of the Department of Consumer Affairs through various news articles regarding the practices of Nestle company in India, particularly concerning the composition of the Nestle Cerelac cereals.

As per news reports, the Switzerland-based organisation has published a report highlighting Nestle’s manufacturing practices in India, she said.

“According to the report, Nestle has been alleged to add 2.7 gram of sugar per serving of Nestle Cerelac baby cereals sold in India, while refraining from such practices in other countries such as Germany, Switzerland, France and the UK,” Khare said in the letter.

Asserting that high sugar in baby products raises serious concerns about the potential implications for the health and safety of children in our country, the Secretary said, “the health and wellbeing of our citizens, especially infants and young children, is of paramount importance, and any deviation from safety standards could lead to serious health concerns.”

In light of these reports, Khare said, “the FSSAI has been requested to initiate an appropriate action into the practices of Nestle company regarding the composition of Nestle Cerelac baby cereals sold in India”.

FSSAI should investigate the matter and come out with facts, she added.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body under the administration of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also taken note of the report and issued notice to the FSSAI.

Meanwhile on Thursday, Nestle India had said it never compromises on compliance and it has reduced added sugar in baby food products in India by over 30% depending on variants over the past five years.

“Reduction of added sugars is a priority for Nestle India. Over the past 5 years, we have already reduced added sugars up to 30%, depending on the variant,” the company spokesperson had said.

Stressing that compliance is an essential characteristic of Nestle India, the spokesperson said, “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.”

According to the report, Nestle’s wheat-based product, Cerelac for six-month-old babies is sold without any added sugars in the UK and Germany but 15 Cerelac products analysed from India contained 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving on average.

The sugar content was declared on the packaging in India, the report said.

The highest sugar content in the product was 6 grams in Thailand. In the Philippines, sugar content was found to be 7.3 grams in five out of eight samples tested and the information was not even declared on the packaging, according to the report.

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Nestle adds sugar to Cerelac products sold in India but not in Europe: Study

In India, 15 of Nestle's baby cereal products contained 3g sugar for each serving

Nestle adds sugar to infant milk and cereal products sold in India and several other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, violating international norms, according to a study.

The revelation came after Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) sent samples of Nestle baby food products in Asia, Africa and Latin America to Belgian laboratary for testing.

According to the investigation, 15 Cerelac baby cereal products sold in India contain added sugar amounting to nearly 3 gram per serving. In 2022, the company made a revenue of Rs 20,000 crore in India.

In Brazil, six of the Cerelac (known locally as Mucilon) products contained around 4 gram sugar per serving. In Ethiopia, it went up to 5 gram while in Thailand it was an alarming 6 gram for each serving. In Nigeria, one of the products contained up to 6.8 gram sugar. The amount of added sugar is reportedly not mentioned in the packaging of these products.

Contrary to this, the cereals for children aged six months to two years sold by Nestle in European countries like the UK, France and Germany had no added sugar.

Laurent Gaberell, Public Eye’s agriculture and nutrition expert, said: “Nestle must put an end to these dangerous double standards and stop adding sugar in all products for children under three years old, in every part of the world.”

Experts have warned that adding sugar to baby products can lead to obesity at a young age and chronic diseases at later stages in life. 

A Nestle India spokesperson said the company has followed all local regulations and international standards. "We believe in the nutritional quality of our products for early childhood and prioritise using high-quality ingredients. Over the past five 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 the level of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety and taste," the spokesperson added.

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Nestle adds sugar in Cerelac in India but not in Europe, claims report

A recent report by public eye, a swiss watchdog group, has sparked controversy over nestle's practices in infant food. the report alleges that nestle adds sugar to its cerelac baby cereal sold in india and other low-income countries, while the same product is sugar-free in europe..

The report, based on an analysis of 150 Nestle products in ‘lower-income countries,’ including India, raises concerns about the potential health implications for babies consuming these sugar-added foods. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends against added sugar in baby foods due to its link to childhood obesity and other health problems.

The investigation found that all Cerelac variants in India contain added sugar, averaging nearly 3 grams per serving. This is concerning as health guidelines recommend minimal to no added sugar for young children. The report highlights that Nestle's lucrative Indian market, exceeding $250 million in sales in 2022, seems to be a target for these sugared products.

Unequal practices:

Public Eye, along with the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), conducted tests on these products and found that many contained added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey. This includes popular brands like Nido, a follow-on milk formula for toddlers, and Cerelac, a cereal for babies six months and older.

Significantly, the report highlights that these sugary versions are not found in Nestle's product lines sold in wealthier nations. Products like Cerelac in Europe are explicitly labeled ‘no added sugar,’ while their counterparts in low-income regions contain added sugars.

The report highlights specific examples, Cerelac baby cereal in South Africa contains the equivalent of one and a half sugar cubes per serving, while an equivalent product in Switzerland explicitly states no added sugar. The average sugar content across 78 Cerelac samples from Africa, Latin America, and Asia was approximately one sugar cube per serving.

Potential health risks:

The report's findings raise concerns about the potential health consequences for babies consuming these sugar-laden products. Excessive sugar intake in early childhood can contribute to obesity, tooth decay, and other health problems later in life.  Public Eye argues that Nestle is putting the health of vulnerable populations at risk for the sake of short-term gains.

Laurent Gabrell, co-author of the Public Eye investigation, stated, "By adding sugar to these products, Nestle's sole aim – and that of other manufacturers too – is to create an addiction or dependency in children because they like the taste of sugar. And so, if the products are very sweet, they'll be asking for more in the future." 

Nestle’s response:

Nestle has claimed to have decreased the quantity of sugar incorporated into its global range of infant cereals by 11% within the past decade. A company spokesperson emphasised that Nestle products clearly declare total sugar content, noting that ‘slight variations in recipes’ for Nido and Cerelac products occur due to regulatory requirements and the accessibility of local ingredients.

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Nestle India Shares Sink Over 5% On Reports Of High Sugar Content in Cerelac; Details

Reported By : Aparna Deb

Last Updated: April 18, 2024, 14:59 IST

New Delhi, India

Latest report reveals Nestle adds sugar to infant milk sold in poorer countries. 'Cerelac' wheat sold in India has 2.2gm of added sugar per portion. (Getty)

Today's fall in shares of Nestle was the worst single-day drop in the last 3 years

Shares of Nestle India on Thursday fell up to 5.4 per cent to the day’s low at Rs 2,409.55 on BSE. This comes after a report by Public Eye called out the FMCG major for adding sugar and honey to its best-selling infant milk and cereal products in developing countries like India but not in the European markets.

The finding raised concern about Nestle’s adherence to international guidelines aimed at curbing obesity and chronic diseases. Following the revelation, the health ministry was also said to be concerned about the issue.

Today’s fall in shares of Nestle, regarded as a long-term compounding machine, was the worst single-day drop in the last 3 years.

In a joint investigation, the Zurich-based watchdog and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) sent popular baby food samples in Asia, Latin America, and Africa from Nestle to a testing laboratory in Belgium. The study examined 150 products sold by the company in low and middle-income nations, including best-selling brands Cerelac and Nido.

The results of the testing found that “almost all” Cerelac wheat-based cereals by Nestle in those regions, targeted at infants from six months of age, contained added sugar equivalent to an average of 4 grams per serving, or a sugar cube.

The highest volume of sugar added to a product, at 7.3 grams per serving, was detected in the Philippines, followed by 6.8 grams in Nigeria and 5.9 grams in Senegal. Findings showed that in India, all 15 Cerelac baby products contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving.

The same product is being sold with no added sugar in Germany and the UK, while in Ethiopia and Thailand, it contains nearly 6 grams, the study said.

Public Eye and IBFAN found that sugar was not added to equivalent products in Nestle’s home nation Switzerland and other major European markets in Germany, the UK and France. The report called this “a double standard that is unjustifiable and problematic” both from an ethnic and the public health standpoints.

It is worth noting that Nestle sold over Rs 20,000 crore worth of Cerelac products in India in 2022. Experts say that adding sugar, which is highly addictive, to baby products is a dangerous and unnecessary practice.

As the controversy erupted with health experts calling out the “double-standards”, Nestle said it has reduced sugar up to 30% in the past 5 years depending on variant in infant cereals.

“We regularly review and reformulate portfolio to further reduce levels of added sugar,” a company spokesperson said.

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Every Parent Should Know The Scandalous History Of Infant Formula

inspired us to look into the dubious history of this product.

Outrage started in the 1970s, when Nestle was accused of getting third world mothers hooked on formula, which is less healthy and more expensive than breast milk.

The allegations led to hearings in the Senate and the World Health Organization, resulting in a new set of marketing rules.

Yet infant formula remains a $11.5-billion-and-growing market .

'The Baby Killer' blew the lid off the formula industry in 1974.

Social rights groups began dragging the industry's exploitative practices into the spotlight in the early 1970s.

The New Internationalist published an exposé on Nestlé's marketing practices in  1973, " Babies Mean Business ," which described how the company got Third World mothers hooked on baby formula.

But it was "The Baby Killer," a booklet published by London's War On Want organization  in 1974, that really blew the lid off the baby formula industry. 

Nestlé was accused of getting Third World mothers hooked on formula

Nevermind that these women lived in squalor and struggling to survive.

In poverty-stricken cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America,  "babies are dying because their mothers bottle feed them with Western-style infant milk," alleged War on Want. 

Nestlé  accomplished this in three ways,  said New Internationalist : 

• Creating a need where none existed. 
• Convincing consumers the products were indispensable. 
• Linking products with the most desirable and unattainable concepts—then giving a sample.

Meanwhile, research was proving breastfeeding was healthier.

"At the same time, the benefits of breastfeeding were being brought to light," Paige Harrigan a senior nutrition advisor with  Save the Children , told Business Insider. 

Vitamin A prevents blindness and lowers a child's risk of death from common diseases, while zinc might stave off diarrhea, according to the organization's State of the World Report . Six months of exclusive breastfeeding are said to increase a child's chance of survival by six times. 

Still, third world women yearned for Westernization.

Poor women longed to  move from a rural to an urban way of life , which prodded them to abandon breastfeeding and in turn primed them for marketing, said War on Want: 

"As the social position of women changes and they go out to earn a wage ... looking at the breast as a cosmetic sex symbol rather than a source of nourishment reinforces the trend." 

New mothers everywhere received promotional material for formula.

Besides handing out pamphlets and samples to new mothers, companies hired "'sales girls in nurses' uniforms (sometimes qualified, sometimes not)" to drop by their homes unannounced and sell them on baby formula, said War on Want. 

Here, one mother recounts a Nestlé "milk nurse's" sales pitch: 

"The nurse began by saying ... breastfeeding was best. She then went on detail the supplementary foods that the breastfed baby would need ... The nurse was implying that it was possible to start with a proprietary baby milk from birth, which would avoid these unnecessary problems."

Source: Baby Milk Action 

War on Want said this undermined women's confidence in breastfeeding.

Playing into undernourished women's fear of harming their newborn was a "confidence trick," said War on Want.  When these women felt fear, pain or sadness, their milk would dry up as a result. 

The "letdown reflex, which controls the flow of milk to the mother's nipple is a nervous mechanism," the paper said. "Somehow mothers are deciding that a bottle is necessary to the milk she provides ... some mothers may even become so concerned about not having enough milk that they will not have enough." 

Hospitals were also accused of pushing mothers to use formula.

This worked on two levels, said New Internationalist : In exchange for handing out "discharge packs" of formula, hospitals received freebies like formula and baby bottles. 

"The most insidious of these is a free architectural service to hospitals which are building or renovating facilities for newborn care," the authors wrote. 

Beyond that, the authors said "baby milk companies spend untold millions of dollars subsidizing office furnishings, research projects, gifts, conferences, publications and travel junkets of the medical profession." 

Meanwhile in the Third World, women tried to save money by diluting the formula.

Formulas had to be mixed with water, but Third World mothers didn't understand that overdilluting it—especially with contaminated water—could "prevent a child from absorbing the nutrients in food and lead to malnutrition," said War on Want. 

A New York Times' article on the scandal  said one Jamaican family's income "averaged only $7 a week," leading the mother to dilute the water with as much as three times the recommended amount of water so she could feed two children. 

Millions of babies died from malnutrition.

"The results can be seen in the clinics and hospitals, the slums and graveyards of the Third World," said War on Want. "Children whose bodies have wasted away until all that is left is a big head on top of the shriveled body of an old man." 

In the Times,  United States Agency for International Development official, Dr. Stephen Joseph, blamed reliance on baby formula  for a million infant deaths every year through malnutrition and diarrheal diseases. 

It also hindered infant growth in general, said War on Want. Citing "complex links emerging between breast feeding and emotional and physical development," the group said breastfed children walked "significantly better than bottle-fed" kids, and were more emotionally advanced. 

Nestlé sued a War On Want publisher for libel in 1974.

Nestlé  wasn't about to take these allegations lying down. It sued a German translator of War on Want's exposé, which published it in Sweden with the title, " Nestlé Kills Babies."

Nestlé won the suit in 1976, said Baby Milk Action  , but with a caveat: The judge urged them to "modify its publicity methods fundamentally."  Time Magazine declared this a "moral victory" for consumers. 

The bad publicity sparked a global boycott of Nestlé.

Infant Formula Action Coalition launched a boycott in the U.S. protesting Nestlé . Soon it spread to France, Finland and Norway and countless other countries.

"I remember my mother telling me about this and in 1980, she refused to buy candy bars because we heard of so many kids dying in the news stories," said Harrigan. 

The boycott was suspended in 1984, but resurfaced in the late 1980s when Ireland, Australia, Mexico, Sweden and the U.K. adopted it. 

The International Code of Marketing Breast-Milk Substitutes was created in 1981.

In 1978, Senator Edward Kennedy held a series of U.S. Senate Hearings on the industry's unethical marketing practices. International meetings with the World Health Organization, Unicef and The International Baby Food Action Network followed. 

By 1981, the 34th World Health Assemblyhad adopted Resolution WHA34.22, which includes the International Code of Marketing Breast-Milk Substitutes . 

The code explained how baby formula should be promoted worldwide.

Among them, the code states that baby food companies may not: 

• Promote products in hospitals, shops or to the general public
• Give free samples to mothers
• Give gifts to health workers or mothers
• Give misleading information 

"The biggest one was explaining the costs of using the formula," said Harrigan. 

Social rights groups say baby food companies still don't comply.

To this day, Nestlé is scrutinized by citizens and NGOs worldwide. Publications such as IBFAN's "Breaking the Rules, Stretching The Rules," outline violations ranging from displaying posters showing healthy bottle-fed babies in hospital rooms to giving doctors promotional prescription pads. 

But whether countries abide by the code is so hard to track, said Harrigan. "The code may be law in some places, but often enforcement is weak. The next step will be deciding whether the code is law and how to enforce it in a systemized way." 

Baby Milk Action, a nonprofit aimed at protecting breastfeeding and exposing the conflict, created this "Nastie" logo for a 2010 mockumentary on  Nestlé. 

Celebrities like this British TV host joined the breastfeeding cause in the 1990s.

Britain's "The Mark Thomas Product" show skewered Nestlé in 1999 when its host asked heads of the company why they misrepresented their products—and labeled them in English. Didn't this take advantage of the poor and illiterate? 

Here, Mark Thomas asks a "tin of baby milk from Mozambique" isn't written in Portuguese, the country's official language. 

According to Baby Milk Action , Emma Thompson famously called for a boycott of the Perrier Comedy Award in 2001 since the beverage is owned by Nestlé. The following year, the Tap Water Awards were established. 

Today, breastfeeding and formula remain a hot topic.

Recently, NYC Mayor Bloomberg launched the  Latch On, NYC  iniative which aims to do away with formula in hospitals. 

"From what I can tell, it's using the a lot of provisions in the code," said Harrigan. 

Not even your kitchen is safe ...

See what to buy and avoid at the warehouse club > 

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Nestle India responds: 'Reducing sugars in baby food' following critical report

A recent study uncovered elevated levels of added sugar in Nestle's popular baby food brands, including Cerelac and Nido, sold in India and various other nations. Nestle India has responded to the findings.

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

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