Nestle adds 3 gm sugar in every serving of cerelac sold in India, says report

Digital Desk: An investigation by Public Eye has uncovered a concerning trend in Nestle's baby food offerings in India compared to other developed nations. While Nestle's baby food brands are sugar-free in countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland, they contain high levels of added sugar in India, as revealed in the report.

Nestle, known as the world's largest consumer goods company, has been found to add sugar and honey to its infant milk and cereal products in several countries, including India. This practice goes against international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases, raising serious concerns about the nutritional quality of these products.

In India, all 15 Cerelac baby products were found to contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving, while the same products sold in Germany and the UK are sugar-free. This stark contrast underscores the disparity in product formulation and raises questions about Nestle's transparency regarding added sugar content.

Despite these findings, a spokesperson from Nestle India Ltd. emphasized the company's efforts to reduce added sugars in its infant cereals portfolio by 30% over the past five years. They stated that Nestle continues to review and reformulate products to further reduce sugar content while prioritizing the nutritional quality of their offerings.

However, experts caution against the practice of adding sugar to baby products, citing its addictive nature and potential health risks. Rodrigo Vianna, an epidemiologist and Professor at the Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil, emphasizes that introducing sugar to babies can lead to a preference for sweet tastes, increasing the risk of nutrition-based disorders in adulthood, including obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

The lack of transparency regarding added sugar content further exacerbates the issue, as consumers may not be aware of the true nutritional profile of these products. This raises concerns about informed decision-making and underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the baby food industry.

In 2022 alone, Nestle sold over ₹20,000 Crore worth of Cerelac products in India, highlighting the widespread impact of this issue on infant nutrition and public health. As consumers become increasingly conscious of the ingredients in baby foods, there is a growing demand for greater scrutiny and regulation to ensure the well-being of infants and young children.