Nestle India on Thursday made a significant revelation concerning its nutritional adjustments to baby food products. The company has successfully reduced the amount of added sugar by more than 30 percent in various baby food products over the past five years. This initiative comes amidst scrutiny, following reports suggesting that the global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) giant had been marketing products with higher sugar content in emerging economies.
Investigative efforts led by the Swiss NGO Public Eye, in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), uncovered that baby products sold by Nestle in South Asian, African, and Latin American countries contained more sugar than those sold in European markets. In response to these findings and calls for commentary, a spokesperson for Nestle India stated, “Reduction of added sugars is a priority for Nestle India. Over the past 5 years, we have already reduced added sugars up to 30 percent, depending on the variant.”
The spokesperson elaborated on the company’s commitment to their products’ continual improvement, reiterating the imperative to innovate and reformulate without compromising nutrition, quality, safety, and taste. Nestle India emphasized that its infant cereal products are carefully crafted to deliver essential nutritional needs such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and iron, which are vital during early childhood development.
Nestle India’s uncompromising stance on the nutritional quality of their products is underlined by their reliance on a global research and development network, which supports advancements in nutritional profiles of their product line. According to the spokesperson, compliance with globally recognized standards, including those set by CODEX—a commission established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), along with local specifications, is non-negotiable within Nestle India’s operational principles.
The IBFAN report surveyed around 150 different baby products across various countries. It achieved a notable highlight that the Cerelac wheat-based product for six-month-old children was sold without any added sugar in the UK and Germany. In contrast, 15 Cerelac products examined from India showed an average of 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving. The study also presented a substantial disparity in Thailand, where sugar content was recorded at 6 grams, and in the Philippines, where out of eight samples tested, five had a sugar content of 7.3 grams. Moreover, the report pointed to deficiencies in labeling practices, as this sugar content was not consistently declared on the packaging in all countries.
The findings have prompted Nestle India to affirm its dedication to delivering top-notch nutrition—a commitment the company has maintained for over a century. Nestle India vows to sustain the highest standards of nutrition, quality, and safety in all its products, positioning itself as a responsible leader within the infant nutrition sector.
In the light of these developments, Nestle India’s effort to scale back on added sugar upholds their pledge towards prioritizing better health outcomes for the youngest consumers. It also exemplifies a broader movement within the food industry, as companies face growing pressure to provide healthier options and more transparent labeling to inform parental choices better. As society becomes increasingly health-conscious, the focus on added sugar content in baby food will likely remain a critical topic in discussions about public health, nutrition, and corporate responsibility.
