Nestlé adds sugar to its Nido and Cerelac baby food formulations in low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa, but not in wealthy countries like Switzerland. (William Brederode/News24).
- Nestlé adds added sugar to its baby food brands sold in South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.
- The company sells sugar-free formulations of the same product in Western markets such as Switzerland.
- A Nestlé spokesperson insisted that the difference in formulation does not affect the nutritional integrity of the product.
- For more financial news, visit: News24 Business top page.
Multinational food and beverage company Nestlé sells sugar-sweetened baby food in low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa, while selling sugar-free alternatives under the same name and brand in Western markets, and following health guidance. He was accused of violating the law.
This is the result of a joint study by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), which analyzed 150 Nestlé baby food products sold in low- and middle-income countries. be. The nutritional value listed on the packaging was analyzed and, if necessary, an opaque label was applied and the product was sent to a laboratory for testing.
The report was released the day before Nestlé's annual general meeting.
Research shows that Nido and Cerelac, two of the most popular baby food brands sold by Nestlé, are sold in lower- and middle-income regions than in wealthy countries, despite being sold under the same brand name and packaging design. It was also found that the sugar content was high.
In these regions, each serving of Cerelac had an average of 4 grams of added sugar, and Nido had 2 grams of added sugar per serving.
In Switzerland, where Nestlé is headquartered, the same product contained zero grams of added sugar per serving.
The average sugar cube weighs between 3 and 5 grams.
All brands of Cerelac sold in South Africa, the continent's largest market, contain more than 4 grams of sugar per serving, the report said.
All Cerelac products sold in South Africa have been found to have added sugar. Average added sugar content was 4.2 grams.
The report found that South African nido products had an average of 0.9 grams of added sugar. (William Brederode/News24)
In South Africa, nido products for children aged 1 to 3 contained an average of 0.9 grams of sugar.
Nido and Cerelac are sold in many retail stores and pharmacies in South Africa.
health
Mota Mota, Nestlé's spokesperson for East and Southern Africa, sent a statement to News24 on the matter, saying that regional recipe adjustments for products are a nutritional benefit for Nestlé products designed for infants and young children. It was argued that it would not compromise the integrity of the
“…Slight differences in recipes may exist between countries due to factors such as regulations, consumer preferences, and availability of ingredients,” Mota said.
However, adding sugar to baby food products goes against guidance from health authorities.
U.S. federal guidelines say children under the age of 2 shouldn't consume processed sugar, and studies have linked consumption to future illnesses such as childhood obesity and heart disease. The World Health Organization is calling for a ban on added sugar in products for infants and children under the age of three from 2022, according to a study.
Results from South Africa's first national food and nutrition survey conducted in 30 years showed that almost half of the population is obese.
“colonization”
The report's authors spoke to Karen Hoffmann, a professor of public health at the University of the Witwatersrand and a qualified pediatrician, who said differences in blood sugar levels were a form of “colonization.”
“I don't understand why products sold in South Africa should be different from those aimed at higher income groups.
She added:
This is a form of colonization and should not be tolerated.
“There is no good reason to add sugar to baby food.”
Mota said Nestlé is taking steps to reduce sugar content across its products.
“We have made significant efforts to minimize sugar across our products, including phasing out added sugars such as sucrose and glucose syrup from growing milk for children aged 12 months and older worldwide. “We have done so,” he said.
Mota said Nestlé has ensured that its products meet standards set by national and international regulatory authorities.
“Our formulas are meticulously crafted using balanced, high-quality ingredients tailored to support children's growth and development,” he said. .
