Experts say there can be long-term health consequences for babies and infants who consume too much sugar at a young age.
May 3, 2024,
By Maya Eaglin
In Switzerland, the label of Nestlé’s Cerelac baby cereal says it contains “no added sugar.” But in Senegal and South Africa, the same product has 6 grams of added sugar per serving, according to a recent Public Eye investigation. And in the Philippines, one serving of a version of the Cerelac cereal for babies 1 to 6 months old contains a whopping 7.3 grams of added sugar, the equivalent of almost two teaspoons.
This “double standard” for how Nestlé creates and markets its popular baby food brands around the world was alleged in a report from Public Eye, an independent nonpartisan Swiss-based investigative organization, and International Baby Food Action Network.
The groups allege that Nestlé adds sugars and honey to some of its baby cereal and formula in lower-income countries, while products sold in Europe and other countries are advertised with “no added sugars.” The disparities uncovered in the report, which was published in the BMJ in April, has raised alarms among global health experts.
Nestlé said on its website, “We have reduced the sugar in many of our infant cereals. While there are added sugars in some, we are making progress towards reducing this further, as well as providing more options without added sugar.”
Public Eye sent 115 baby food products under the Cerelac and Nido brands marketed by the food giant in Africa, Asia and Latin America for lab testing. The investigation found that 94% of them had added sugar.
“For 67 of these products, we were able to determine the amount of added sugar. On average, there are almost 4 grams per serving, or about a [cube] of sugar,” according to the report.
Finding a laboratory to test the global food samples was difficult, said Public Eye researcher Laurent Gaberell.
“All the labs that we approached in Switzerland refused to work with us on the project because they feared that this project could have a negative impact on their customers,” Gaberell said. “So we had to do the work with a lab that is based in Belgium.”
Nestlé is the parent company for popular baby food brands like Cerelac and Nido. The company reports its infant nutrition products were the “largest growth contributor” out of any other category in 2023, contributing to its $11.2 billion net profit.
Gaberell said the levels of added sugar ignore international guidance on nutrition for children and infants.
“There’s really consensus that there’s no place at all for sugar in baby food,” he said.
In the European Region, the World Health Organization guidelines state that no added sugar should be used in foods for infants under the age of 3.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has launched an independent investigation into Nestlé after the report was published according to Reuters.
According to FSSAI’s website, “Sucrose and/or fructose shall not be added, unless needed as a carbohydrate source, and provided the sum of these does not exceed 20 per cent of total carbohydrate.”
And the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in Nigeria released a statement in response to the report that said the Nestlé products in the country do adhere to their standards.
“All our infant formula products for babies under 12 months of age do not contain added sugars,” Nestlé said on its website, “For the so-called growing up milks (GUMs), for children aged between 1 and 3 years, we started to phase out added sugars some time ago and the vast majority of these products do not contain refined sugar. We aim to reach 100% by the end of 2024.”
WHO scientist Nigel Rollins told the Public Eye researchers, “Such a double standard is unjustifiable.”
A spokesperson for Nestlé told NBC News that the company is working on reducing added sugars worldwide and offers sugar-free products in several countries.
On its website Nestlé says, “Our products comply with all applicable local and/or international regulations.”
They also responded with a statement saying: “Supporting the right nutritional start to life is fundamental to who we are and how we operate. All our early life foods and milks are nutritionally balanced as defined in the commonly accepted scientific guidelines and dietary recommendations, including CODEX.”
Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international food standards and guidance developed in partnership with the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Experts say there can be long-term health consequences for babies and infants who consume too much sugar at a young age.
“We have decreased the amount of sugar recommendations in especially young toddlers and children, because we know that we’re in a crisis of obesity, not only in this country but around the world. And we find that increasing sugar in our liquid products is really helping to increase the issues with the obesity crisis,” pediatrician Dr. Sara Siddiqui from NYU Langone Health said.
Creating healthy eating habits from a young age is essential, she said.
“It is really important to start off young and try to decrease our relationship with sugar because it does have some addictive qualities to it, and it can change your brain,” Siddiqui said.
Siddiqui said that monetary stressors might also be influencing parents to continue buying added sugar formulas and baby cereals that their children appear to like.
“In some developing countries and even here in the US where you have people that may be not doing well financially, they don’t want to waste the product once they buy it,” Siddiqui said. “So if your child is going to drink the drink that’s, you know, sweeter to them, they’ll finish that product and then you won’t feel like you’re wasting your funds or your resources.”
Siddiqui encouraged parents to be kind to themselves.
“My advice is always, you know, give yourself some grace. You’re a parent and it’s hard,” Siddiqui said. “It’s always best to read the ingredients, do the best that you can, and make sure that you’re also trying to model the behavior that you would like to see in your children.”
Gaberell’s solutions include educating local communities about their traditional methods of infant nutrition and demanding that Nestlé stop producing all infant products with added sugar.
“You did it in Switzerland, you can do it worldwide,” Gaberell said.
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it
You are my inspiration, I own few web logs and often run out from brand :). “Truth springs from argument amongst friends.” by David Hume.
I really enjoy studying on this website , it has got superb blog posts.
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
I got what you mean , appreciate it for putting up.Woh I am pleased to find this website through google.
Great write-up, I?¦m normal visitor of one?¦s blog, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
Hey very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am glad to seek out numerous helpful info here in the put up, we need develop extra techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing.
Regards for this wonderful post, I am glad I found this web site on yahoo.
Perfect piece of work you have done, this website is really cool with fantastic info .
Thank you so much for providing individuals with an exceptionally wonderful chance to read from this site. It really is very excellent plus stuffed with a good time for me and my office acquaintances to visit your site particularly thrice every week to read through the latest issues you will have. And of course, we are at all times motivated for the terrific tactics you give. Some 3 tips in this posting are in fact the most suitable I have had.
fabuloso este conteúdo. Gostei muito. Aproveitem e vejam este conteúdo. informações, novidades e muito mais. Não deixem de acessar para saber mais. Obrigado a todos e até mais. 🙂
I am continually looking online for posts that can help me. Thx!
I like this website so much, saved to bookmarks.
Great post, I believe website owners should acquire a lot from this web site its real user pleasant.
I learned a lot from this.
Hello.This article was really motivating, especially because I was investigating for thoughts on this subject last Saturday.
You are my inspiration, I have few web logs and very sporadically run out from post :). “No opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.” by W. H. Auden.
I’ll gladly return to read more.
Such a helpful bit of content.
Thanks for putting this up. It’s a solid effort.
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you provide. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Great read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
Right now it sounds like Drupal is the preferred blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
Adorei este site. Pra saber mais detalhes acesse o site e descubra mais. Todas as informações contidas são conteúdos relevantes e únicos. Tudo que você precisa saber está está lá.
I am now not sure the place you’re getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.
I’m really inspired together with your writing skills as well as with the layout in your blog. Is that this a paid theme or did you modify it your self? Anyway stay up the excellent quality writing, it’s uncommon to see a nice weblog like this one these days..
Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
çocuk pornosu
japon pornoları
I’d have to examine with you here. Which isn’t one thing I normally do! I enjoy studying a publish that can make folks think. Also, thanks for permitting me to remark!
It?¦s really a nice and useful piece of info. I?¦m glad that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Very nice article and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is in fact the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thx 🙂
Very fantastic information can be found on web site.
You are a very smart individual!
You are a very capable person!
Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for info about this topic for ages and yours is the best I have came upon till now. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you positive about the supply?
I have recently started a web site, the info you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Aw, this was a very nice post. In idea I want to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and in no way seem to get one thing done.
**biodentex**
biodentex is a dentist-endorsed oral wellness blend crafted to help fortify gums, defend enamel, and keep your breath consistently fresh.
**ignitra**
ignitra is a premium, plant-based dietary supplement created to support healthy metabolism, weight management, steady energy, and balanced blood sugar as part of an overall wellness routine
**finessa**
Finessa is a natural supplement made to support healthy digestion, improve metabolism, and help you achieve a flatter belly.
**glpro**
GL Pro is a natural dietary supplement formulated to help maintain steady, healthy blood sugar levels while easing persistent sugar cravings.
**mounjaboost**
MounjaBoost is a next-generation, plant-based supplement created to support metabolic activity, encourage natural fat utilization
Our local network of agencies has found your research so helpful.