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Synopsis : Govt investigates Nestle for adding sugar to baby food; concerns raised over compliance with WHO guidelines.
The report highlighted that in India, where sales exceeded $250 million in 2022, all Cerelac baby cereals contain added sugar, averaging nearly 3 grams per serving, despite the World Health Organization's guidelines prohibiting such additions in baby food.
The Indian Government has taken proactive notice of reports suggesting Nestle's inclusion of sugar in infant milk sold in India.
"We have acknowledged the report concerning Nestle and will conduct an investigation following thorough examination," stated a high-ranking government official to Business Today TV.
The Department of Consumer Affairs will invoke the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, tasking the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to inspect samples of Nestle's infant food, as per sources. Senior officials from the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) are scheduled to deliberate on the matter soon.
News outlets, referencing findings from a Swiss investigative organization, report that in India, where Nestle sales exceeded $250 million in 2022, all Cerelac baby cereals contain added sugar, averaging close to 3 grams per serving. This trend is also observable in South Africa, the primary African market, where all Cerelac baby cereal products have 4 grams or more of added sugar per serving. Similarly, in Brazil, the world's second-largest market with sales of approximately $150 million in 2022, three-quarters of Cerelac baby cereals (known as Mucilon) contain added sugar, averaging 3 grams per serving.
Reports suggest that Nestle adjusts the sugar content of Cerelac differently in Asian countries compared to developed markets like the US and Europe.
According to Euromonitor International, Cerelac leads the global baby cereal market, with sales exceeding $1 billion in 2022. Notably, a significant portion of these sales, around 40 percent, comes from low- and middle-income countries, with Brazil and India alone contributing a substantial share.
Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, sent samples of Nestle's baby food 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 infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal for children aged between six months and two years.
Nestle India informed several publications that the company has reduced added sugars by up to 30 percent in its infant cereals portfolio over the past five years. The company's statement added, "We regularly evaluate our portfolio and continue to innovate and reformulate our products to further decrease the level of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety, and taste." The findings by Public Eye were first reported by The Guardian.
