Report finds Nestle’s baby milk in poorer countries contains sugar

A Swiss investigative organisation found that Nestle, a multinational consumer goods company, adds sugar to infant food products sold in low-income countries.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, this practice violates international standards that recommend against adding sugar to food for children under three due to the risk of chronic diseases, weight gain, and tooth decay.

A report in The Guardian highlighted the findings of Public Eye. The consumer advocacy group sent samples of Nestle products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing.

The results disclosed Nido milk and Cerelac (a cereal) for toddlers, contain added sugars like sucrose and honey.

In contrast, Nestle's toddler food products in major European markets, the US, and the UK contained little to no added sugar, with exceptions for some cereal products. 

Public Eye urged Nestle to end this "double standard" and stop adding sugars to infant food products sold in underdeveloped countries.

WHO reported that since 2000, the number of overweight children under five in Africa has grown by nearly a quarter. This trend is not limited to Africa, with global estimates suggesting over 1 billion people currently living with obesity.

Many consumers struggle to identify hidden sugars in baby food products, as labels often do not clearly mention added sweeteners.

Public Eye, citing data from Euromonitor International, revealed that Cerelac generates $1 billion in global sales, with 40% of that amount originates from Brazil and India.

Their research also highlighted variations in added sugar content across different countries.

Tests conducted on Nido and Cerelac products in Brazil, India, Senegal, South Africa, Mexico, and Indonesia revealed the presence of sugar content at different levels across these countries.

A Nestlé spokesperson stated that the company always adheres to international standards, "including labeling requirements and sugar content thresholds within carbohydrate limits."

She further added that sucrose and glucose syrup are being removed from toddler milk formulas around the world.