Nestle, the global food giant, faces criticism following an investigation uncovering high levels of added sugar in its baby food products across developing countries, including Nigeria.
The study, conducted by Swiss organization Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), has raised concerns among parents and health experts.
The report revealed traces of sugar, such as sucrose or honey, in Cerelac, a cereal for children aged six months to two years, and Nido, a follow-up milk formula for infants at least one year old, sold in countries like Nigeria.
Comparatively, Cerelac products in India contain nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving, while those in developed nations like Germany and the UK have no added sugar. In countries like Ethiopia and Thailand, the sugar content reaches nearly 6 grams per serving.
According to Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) a non- governmental organization which has been at the forefront of of fighting against Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) , products filled with SSBs either , dairy products among others are associated with the heightened risk of obesity-related cancers.
CAPPA’s Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi in one of their workshops had urged advised the government to tackle the problem from its roots, adding that better monitoring and regulation of SSBs among other measures, will be a great place to start.
“The government cannot tackle the rising cases of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) without addressing the risk factors holistically. These include taking concrete actions against sugar-sweetened beverages, and other unhealthy dietary trends.
The group also called for policies that will take promote healthy living among the citizens.
“In a country with more than 80% paying out-of-pocket for health expenditure, the government must prioritise legislations that shrink unhealthy food environments and promote a healthy consumption culture in society.”
However while responding to an enquiry on the development by an online news platform in Nigeria, Nestle Nigeria’s Head of Corporate Communications, Victoria Uwadoka, stated that the company maintains consistent nutrition, health, and wellness principles globally.
She clarified that Nestle does not add sugars to infant formula for children aged 0-12 months, including in Nigeria. She emphasized adherence to international and local guidelines, stating that Nestle’s Growing Up Milk in Nigeria contains no added sugars.
