New Report Reveals Nestle’s Addition of Sugar to Infant Milk Sold in Africa and Elsewhere

By The Inspirer.

A recent report by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network, has shed light on Nestle’s practice of adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in poorer countries, including in Africa and Asia. This discovery goes against international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases among infants and young children.

The report focused on Nestle’s popular baby products, Nido and Cerelac, which are widely sold across Africa, including Rwanda. Samples of these products were sent by campaigners from Public Eye to a Belgian laboratory for testing. The results revealed the presence of added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido, a follow-up milk formula for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal for children aged between six months and two years.

Interestingly, Nestle’s products in its main European markets do not contain added sugar in formulas for young children. While some cereals aimed at older toddlers in these markets do have added sugar, products targeted at babies between six months and one year are free from added sugars.

The discrepancy in sugar content raises concerns, especially considering the health risks associated with early exposure to added sugars. Countries like the UK recommend that children under four avoid foods with added sugars due to risks such as weight gain and tooth decay. Similarly, US government guidelines advise against foods and drinks with added sugars for children younger than two.

According to data from Euromonitor International cited in the report, Cerelac has global retail sales exceeding $1 billion, with a significant portion coming from low- and middle-income countries like Brazil and India. The report highlighted variations in sugar levels across different markets, with some products containing as much as 6.8g of added sugar per serving in certain countries.

Nestle responded to the report by stating that they have reduced the total amount of added sugars in their infant cereals portfolio by 11% worldwide over the past decade. They also mentioned ongoing efforts to further reduce added sugars in their products, particularly in “growing-up milks” aimed at toddlers.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) regarding Nestle’s products in the local market were unsuccessful. However, last year, Rwanda FDA took action by banning imports and sales of certain Cerelac products that did not meet standard labeling requirements.

The findings from this report underscore the importance of stringent regulations and monitoring to ensure that infant and baby food products meet international standards and prioritize the health of young consumers.”

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