Sugar in baby food: Why Nestlé needs to be held to account in Africa

Phys.org— Nestlé has been criticized for adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries. The Swiss food giant controls 20% of the baby-food market, valued at nearly US$70 billion.

Ars Technica—Nestlé baby foods loaded with unhealthy sugars—but only in poorer countries. Health experts say children under age 2 should have zero added sugars in their diets.

NBC News—Report finds Nestlé adds sugars to baby food in low-income countries. 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...

Scroll.in—Sugar in Nestlé baby food sold in African countries shows how corporations influence public policy. Products sold by the company in African countries had much higher levels of sugar compared to European nations.