*A fresh report by ‘Public Eye’ researchers and advocates from over 20 African countries claims Nestl茅, Swiss food giant, is 鈥榩utting the health of babies at risk for profit鈥� with ‘added sugar’ to babyfoods, accusing the firm of supporting ‘a preventable public health catastrophe’ across the African continent

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Nestl茅, a Swiss food giant, in a new investigative report, has been accused of 鈥榬isking health of babies for profit鈥� over added sugar in cereals sold in Nigeria, Egypt, Madagascar, South Africa, Malawi, and several other African countries.

绿帽献妻 reports the Public Eye, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has accused the global food company of 鈥渄ouble standards鈥� by not adhering to health standards applied to richer economies in the world.

Nestl茅 baby food products available in Nigeria include infant formulas, such as Lactogen and Nan SupremePro, and infant cereals, including CERELAC, and other complimentary foods as Golden Morn.

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Other options include SMA First Infant Milk and Pre-Nan for premature or underweight babies.

The human rights campaigners, in the Public Eye report, particularly accused Nestl茅 of inconsistency in regard to babyfoods produced and sold in Europe and other continents, compared to the ones with 鈥渁dded sugar鈥� being manufactured, marketed, and sold for African babies.

Of ‘double standards’ and cases of childhood obesity in Africa

The Public Eye report as well indicated that Nestl茅 is contributing to rising rates of childhood obesity, while the firm claims it is helping to combat malnutrition on the African continent.

According to an investigation by the campaigners, Nestl茅 is still adding sugar to most baby cereals sold across the continent, pointedly accusing the food giant of 鈥減utting the health of African babies at risk for profit.鈥�

Besides, the report noted the advocates accused the food company of 鈥渄ouble standards鈥�.

It is equally noted that the researchers鈥� findings have come at a time when rates of childhood obesity are rising on the African continent.

This is said to have prompted calls for Nestl茅 to remove all added sugar from baby-food products.

Investigative report ‘misleading’, says Nestl茅 Spokesperson

Reacting to the fresh report about its babyfood products for African children, Nestl茅 described the investigation from Public Eye, a Swiss group that calls itself a global justice organisation, as 鈥渕isleading鈥�.

 

A company Spokesperson said that having cereals sweet enough to be palatable to infants was vital in combating malnutrition, agency report said.

The food firm also claimed that its recipes were well within limits set by national regulations in the concerned countries, including Nigeria.

How Public Eye researchers conducted investigation

Public Eye researchers worked with activists in over 20 African countries to buy 94 samples of Cerelac products marketed for babies, aged six months and above, which were sent to a laboratory for analysis.

After investigation, the laboratory found added sugar in over 90 percent of baby cereals, with an average of 6g, or one-and-a-half teaspoons, per serving.

Besides, the researchers uncovered that most products without added sugar were imported, and had originally been intended for sale in Europe, apart from two variants recently launched in South Africa.

The amount of added sugar identified ranged from about 5g a serving for products found in Egypt, Madagascar, South Africa, Malawi and Nigeria to 7.5g in a product sold in Kenya.

What WHO guidelines prescribe for babyfoods

Referencing the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on foods for children under three recommend, the frameworks recommended that babyfoods should contain 鈥渘o added sugars or sweetening agents鈥�, in part because of the risk of creating long-term preferences for sweetened foods.

An earlier investigation by Public Eye published April 2024 had found Nestl茅 was adding sugar, and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America, when equivalent products in richer countries had no added sugar.

CSOs to Nestl茅 CEO: You feed African children with ‘less healthy options’

绿帽献妻 also gathered that in an open letter to Philipp Navratil, Nestl茅鈥檚 Chief Executive, 19 African civil society and consumer organisations stated: 鈥淵ou know how to do things differently.

“But you made a deliberate decision to feed children in Africa with less healthy options.鈥�

Following the Public Eye鈥檚 2024 investigation, Nestl茅 reportedly said it had an ambition to introduce versions of Cerelac with no added sugar across all markets.

However, campaigners and rights advocates said that was 鈥渢oo little, too late鈥�, urging the company to stop adding sugar to babyfoods.

The advocates stated: 鈥淏y adding sugar to infant cereals, Nestl茅 is putting the health of African babies at risk for profit.鈥�

Accusing the firm of playing a part in 鈥渁 preventable public health catastrophe鈥�, they said an epidemic of diet-related non-communicable diseases was spreading across the continent.

In the open letter sent to Nestl茅 CEO Navratil November 17, about 19 Africa-based civil society organisations restated this demonstrated 鈥渄ouble standards鈥�, and demanded that Nestl茅 halt the distribution of baby products with added sugar in Africa.

The letter reads in part: 鈥淚f added sugar is not suitable for Swiss and European children, it is not suitable for children in Africa and beyond.

鈥淎ll babies have an equal right to healthy nutrition 鈥� regardless of their nationality or skin colour.鈥�

No ‘double standards’, Nestl茅 offers versions of cereals at same price range in Africa, Europe: Spokesperson

Speaking on the report, a Spokesperson of Nestl茅 denied any wrongdoing and said Public Eye鈥檚 report 鈥渃ontains misleading and unfounded allegations鈥�.

The Spokesperson told Al Jazeera: 鈥淲e do not have double standards, our approach to nutrition is consistent across all countries.

鈥淣estle is committed to the wellbeing of children everywhere in the world, and we treat all children equally, irrespective of where they are.鈥�

The company as well claimed it offers versions of its cereals both with and without added sugar within the same price range in both Africa and Europe.

In her response also, Peggy Diby, Global Head of Corporate Affairs for Nestl茅 Nutrition, was quoted to have said: 鈥淭hese are unfounded allegations and insinuate actions that are contrary to all our values.

“We disagree with the Public Eye report. It is misleading.

“We do not have double standards when it comes to early childhood nutrition.鈥�

Nestl茅, in the past year, had introduced 14 Cerelac variants with no added sugar in India, and Diby said it was accelerating the rollout of no added sugar varieties in African countries.

The Global Head of Corporate Affairs for Nestl茅 Nutrition also said that Public Eye had refused to share details of its testing.

She as well disputed the sugar levels identified, suggesting they included naturally occurring sugars from milk, cereals and fruits in the products.

According to Diby, levels in Nestl茅 products were 鈥渨ell below鈥� those set out in international food safety and quality standards published by the WHO and the UN鈥檚 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), known as the Codex Alimentarius.

Highlighting iron deficiency as a particular concern, she averred: 鈥淭he biggest challenge in Africa is not obesity, it is malnutrition.

鈥淲e are here to provide age-adapted solutions that contribute to [tackling] malnutrition.鈥�

Similarly, Dr. Sara Colombo Mottaz, Global Head of Medical, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at Nestl茅 Nutrition, said fortified cereals played a key role in providing the necessary micronutrients, and the company had internal 鈥済uardrails鈥� to keep added sugars below a certain level.

Mottaz argued that babies in the womb, or those breastfed as infants, were used to sweet tastes, and it was important to offer them flavours they would accept as they transitioned to solid foods.

She explained: 鈥淲e want to provide to parents [a range of products] that are under also our guardrail.

鈥淩emember that children at the age of six months 鈥� can refuse to eat; and if they refuse to eat, they will not be able to grow properly.鈥�

Nestl茅鈥檚 profit above concern for African babies’ health?

Despite Nestl茅 officials’ defence against Public Eye’s report findings, CSOs, which sent the letter to CEO Navratil, yet have accused the company of putting economic profit before consumers’ welfare.

They asserted: 鈥淟et us be clear: By adding sugar to infant cereals, Nestl茅 is deliberately putting the health of African babies at risk for profit.

鈥淭his must end 鈥� now.鈥�

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