Nestlé has been found to include sugar and honey in infant milk and cereal products sold in many developing countries, according to a report by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization.
Samples of Nestlé’s baby-food products from Asia, Africa, and Latin America were sent to a Belgian laboratory for testing which revealed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey, which goes against International guidelines, the report mentioned.
European Markets Free From Sugar
Nestlé’s products in European markets like the UK do not contain added sugar for young children.
Although some cereals for older toddlers may contain added sugar, those targeting babies between six months and one year do not.
Public Eye’s agriculture and nutrition expert, Laurent Gaberell, emphasized the need for Nestlé to standardize its product formulations globally and eliminate added sugar.
WHO Recommends No Sugar
WHO guidelines for the European region recommend no added sugars in food for children under three, a standard researchers believe should apply globally.
Public Eye’s report highlighted global retail sales exceeding $1 billion for Cerelac, with significant sales in low- and middle-income countries like Brazil and India.
