A recent investigation conducted by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, has exposed Nestle, a global food and beverage company, for selling substandard baby food products with excessive amounts of added sugar in low-income African nations, particularly Nigeria, as well as in Latin America and Asia.

Interestingly, the report revealed that these products are devoid of sugar in Nestle’s home country of Switzerland and the UK.

Despite Nestle claiming to address nutritional deficiencies for both mothers and babies, regardless of whether the babies are fed with formula, breast milk, or a combination of both, the report contradicts their claims.

The report, titled “How Nestle gets children hooked on sugar in lower-income countries ” was conducted in partnership with the International Baby Food Action Network. It focused on Nestle’s infant cereal brand Cerelac and the follow-up milk formula Nido, specifically designed for children aged between six months and two years. It discovered that these products contain an average of nearly four grams of added sugars per serving.

As part of the investigation, samples of Nestle’s baby food products sold in Africa, Asia, and Latin America were analyzed in laboratories in Belgium, revealing alarming levels of sugars such as sucrose or honey.

“On average, our analysis found almost 4 grams per serving or about one sugar cube,” it mentioned.

According to the report, Cerelac had the second-highest sugar content in the Nigerian market, with 6.8g per serving, closely followed by the Philippines with 7.3g. Nigeria ranked 7th out of 10 countries in terms of high added sugar content in Nido powdered milk products for young children aged one to three years old, while Nigeria and Senegal ranked 8th with 0.6g.

Alarmingly, Panama had the highest sugar content at 5.3g per serving, followed by Nicaragua with 4.7g, Mexico with 1.8g, Costa Rica with 1.6g, South Africa with 0.9g, and Indonesia with 0.7g. Cerelac and Nido, which are popular baby food brands in low- and middle-income countries, had a sales value exceeding $2.5 billion in 2022, according to exclusive data obtained from Euromonitor, a market analysis firm specializing in the food industry.

“In its own communications or via third parties, Nestlé promotes Cerelac and Nido as brands whose aim is to help children ‘live healthier lives’. Fortified with vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients, these products are, according to the multinational, tailored to the needs of babies and young children and help to strengthen their growth, immune system, and cognitive development,” it noted.

The report highlighted a case of double standards, pointing out that Nestlé promotes its biscuit-flavored cereals for six-month-old babies in Switzerland as “no added sugar,” whereas in Senegal and South Africa, Cerelac cereals of the same flavor have six grams of added sugar per serving.

“Similarly, in Germany, France, and the UK – Nestlé’s main European markets, all formulas for young children aged 12-36 months sold by the company contain no added sugar. And while some infant cereals for young children over one-year-old contain added sugar, cereals for babies aged six months do not.

“Cerelac wheat-based cereals for six-month-old babies sold by Nestlé in Germany and the UK have no added sugar, while the same product contains over 5 grams per serving in Ethiopia and 6 grams in Thailand.

According to the views of paediatricians and child nutrition experts reflected in the report, “Nestle’s action is a reflection of a double standard that is unjustifiable and problematic, especially from an ethical and public health perspective, particularly in view of the obesity epidemic affecting low-income countries.”

On the eve of its Annual General Meeting, IBFAN criticized the report’s findings in a statement titled “For Nestlé, not all babies are equal when it comes to added sugar,” and condemned the unjustifiable and harmful double standard highlighted, which contributes to the significant increase in obesity and encourages children to develop a lasting fondness for sugary items. In response, IBFAN has issued a petition demanding that Nestlé discontinue this practice.

“Whereas Nestlé recommends publicly avoiding baby foods that contain added sugar, it takes advantage of the weakness of existing regulations to continue selling such products in lower-income countries.

“Furthermore, the investigation by Public Eye and IBFAN shows that the Swiss multinational uses misleading marketing strategies, such as utilizing medical professionals and social media influencers to win the trust of parents in its products.

“A petition launched today demands that Nestlé put an end to these dangerous practices and stop adding sugar in products for babies and young children under three years old, in every part of the world.”

The investigative report’s discoveries contradict the World Health Organization’s recommendations regarding sugar consumption for infants.

According to the WHO, sugar is not advised for infants as it can heighten the risk of long-term health complications, leaving them vulnerable to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and other chronic conditions.

The global health organization cautions that added sugar can increase the overall energy density of diets and potentially lead to a positive energy imbalance.

Maintaining energy balance is crucial for sustaining a healthy body weight and ensuring optimal nutrient intake, as highlighted by the WHO.

The organization raises concerns over the escalating intake of free sugars, especially through sugar-sweetened beverages, warning that this could boost overall energy intake while potentially diminishing the consumption of more nutritionally dense foods.

This imbalance may result in an unhealthy diet, weight gain, and an increased risk of non-communicable diseases.

In contrast, Nestle Nigeria, a subsidiary of Nestle, has refuted the report’s claims, asserting that the inclusion of sugar in its baby formula and cereals marketed in Nigeria aligns with global guidelines for infant nutrition.

The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Victoria Uwadoka, stated in a media release that they adhere to global standards for sugar usage and consistently deliver high-quality products worldwide.

Despite slight recipe variations for Cerelac across different regions, Nestle maintains a steadfast commitment to health, nutrition, and wellness principles in its food production processes, ensuring consistency with global standards.

“In Europe, Nestle’s range of cereals comes with and without added sugars.

“Like everywhere in the world, in Nigeria, we do not add sugars (sucrose and glucose) to Infant formula for children aged 0-12 months.

“These principles are aligned with both international and local guidelines, noting that baby formulas in Nigeria for children 0-12 do not add sugar contents. Nigeria, our Growing Up Milk have no added sugars.

“Our milk and cereals for young children are fortified with vitamins and minerals such as iron to help tackle malnutrition.”

When confronted with findings from the report, scientist Nigel Rollins at the World Health Organization stated, “There is a double standard here that can’t be justified.” Rollins pointed out that Nestle does not add sugar to these products in Switzerland but is willing to do so in lower-resource settings, which he found problematic from both a public health and ethical standpoint.

He expressed concerns that manufacturers may attempt to habituate children to a specific level of sugar at a young age and emphasized, “This is totally inappropriate.”