Nestlé Nigeria is facing public backlash after a report said the company adds large amounts of sugar to baby foods sold in Nigeria and other poorer countries, but not in developed countries.
An investigation by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, showed that while two of Nestlé’s most popular child food brand, Nido and Cerelac, go without sugar in its main European markets, including the UK, France, Germany and its home country of Switzerland, in keeping with international recommendations, those sold in Africa, Latin America and Asia contain sugar.
The group said Cerelac infant cereals sold in Nigeria contain second highest level of sugar amongst dozens of countries measured. Nigeria ranked second (after the Philippines) with 6.8 grams.
The report has angered consumers around the world. Authorities in India have launched an inquiry following the report.
In Nigeria, consumers have expressed outrage on social media, accusing Nestlé of prioritizing profits over the health of Nigerian children. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends minimal to no added sugar in baby food due to the potential for health problems like obesity and diabetes later in life.
“This is ridiculously sad but I’m not surprised – it’s not only Nestle that experiments dangerously with the global west,” Salako, wrote on X. “If you’ve tasted Fanta, coke in Europe – you’ll never take carbonated drinks in Nigeria again.”
“Sugar is death. For babies it’s as strong as Meth. A drug. An addiction. The western corporations know this. They teach us about Sugar addiction & diabetes,” said another X user, Umusuwa.
Nestlé’s Response:
In a statement sent to Pluboard, Nestlé Nigeria said its baby brands adhere to the same standards everywhere, but admitted there may be some “slight variations in recipes” in some cases.
“We apply the same nutrition, health, and wellness principles everywhere in the world which are aligned with both international and local guidelines and regulations,” Nigeria spokesperson Victoria Uwadoka said.
“This includes compliance with labelling requirements and thresholds on carbohydrate content that encompasses sugars.”
The statement, which indicates disparities in standards, admitted there “may be slight variations in recipes around the world” regarding cereals, in this case Cerelac.
“In Europe, Nestlé’s range of cereals comes with and without added sugars,” it said.
But Public Eye said while some cereals for young children over one-year-old in Germany, France and the UK contain added sugar, cereals for babies aged six months did not.
Also, Nestlé denied adding sugar (sucrose and glucose) to Nido in Nigeria and anywhere else for children aged up to 12 months.
Again, Public Eye said it found that Nido for children aged one year and above in poorer countries contained added sugar, while in the three developed countries above, all formulas for young children aged 12-36 months contained no added sugar.
Inquiry launched
A spokesperson for Nigeria’s food and drug regulator told Pluboard on Thursday that the agency follows international standards in approving products.
The director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, told Sun News the agency was not aware of the report but would investigate the claims.
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