An investigation by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network revealed a disparity in sugar content between Nestle products sold in low-income countries and those in more affluent regions.
Published Oct 18, 2024 | 3:32 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 18, 2024 | 3:32 PM
The expanded Cerelac range in India will include 21 variants.
Nestle India (BSE: NESTLEIND) will soon introduce “no refined sugar” variants of its Cerelac infant food. The move follows recent criticism the packaged food maker faced for including added sugar in Cerelac.
“We have achieved our ambition of introducing Cerelac variants with no refined sugar. This was initiated three years ago and culminated this year with the introduction of new Cerelac variants with no refined sugar,” Chairman and Managing Director Suresh Narayanan said while announcing the firm’s September quarter earnings.
“The expanded Cerelac range in India will now include 21 variants, out of which 14 will have no refined sugar,” he said.
Of these 14 variants, seven will be available by November-end, with the remaining would be launched in the coming weeks.
Narayanan also highlighted that Cerelac, Nestle’s cereal-based complementary food, has now entered its 50th year in India. The first batch of Cerelac was produced at the company’s flagship factory in Moga, Punjab, on 15 September 1975.
“Today, hundreds of dedicated employees continue to produce quality nutrition products with the same care and passion at the Moga factory in Punjab and the Samalkha factory in Haryana,” he added.
In April this year, an investigation by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) revealed a disparity in sugar content between products sold in low-income countries and those in more affluent regions.
Biscuit-flavored cereals, for instance, contain significantly higher levels of added sugar in certain regions compared to others, indicating unequal treatment of infants based on their geographical backgrounds.
While Cerelac products in Europe and the UK boast of no added sugar, counterparts in other regions, including India, reveal a concerning average of over 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving.
“In India, where sales surpassed $250 million in 2022, all Cerelac baby cereals contain added sugar, on average nearly three grams per serving. The same situation prevails in South Africa, the main market on the African continent, where all Cerelac baby cereals contain four grams or more of added sugar per serving,” the investigation revealed.
“In Brazil, the world’s second-largest market, with sales of around $150 million in 2022, three-quarters of Cerelac baby cereals (known as Mucilon in the country) contain added sugar, on average three grams per serving,” it said.
This incongruity not only contradicts WHO’s call for a ban on added sugars in baby food due to their potential long-term health implications but also challenges Nestle’s nutritional advice against adding sugar to baby food.
This was opposed by Nestle India, which said that there was no difference between products sold in India and those in other countries.
The consequences of more sugar in baby food can lead to a variety of health issues, both in the short and long term.
Offering foods with added sugars to children from birth to 24 months is problematic because they eat relatively small amounts of food at this age.
If young kids fill up on high-calorie, sugar-laden foods or drinks, it leaves less room for nutritious foods. It can lead to a lack of essential nutrients for proper growth and development.
Also, consuming added sugars in infancy and early childhood can shape long-term food preferences, leading to a lifelong preference for sugary products.
This can increase the risk of developing obesity and other chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and tooth decay.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
