Nestle, a global food and beverage giant, faces scrutiny after a report by “Public Eye” and IBFAN revealed discrepancies in the sugar content of its infant milk products across different regions. While Nestle’s baby food items sold in less affluent nations like India contain added sugar, those marketed in primary markets like Europe and the UK remain sugar-free.
According to the report, samples of Nestle’s baby food items marketed in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were sent to a Belgian laboratory for examination, exposing the disparity in sugar content. In India, where Nestle’s infant milk sales exceeded $250 million in 2022, every variant of Cerelac baby cereal contains supplementary sugar, averaging nearly 3 grams per portion.
In contrast, Cerelac wheat-based cereals tailored for six-month-old infants sold in Germany, France, and the UK do not contain additional sugar. However, identical products in countries like Ethiopia and Thailand were found to contain more than 5 grams and 6 grams of sugar per serving, respectively.
The revelation raises concerns about nutritional standards and market practices, prompting calls for transparency and accountability from Nestle. Critics argue that the disparity in sugar content reflects a double standard in Nestle’s approach to infant nutrition, prioritizing profits over public health.
Meanwhile, Nestle India’s stock price has recently dipped below its 100-day Simple Moving Average, indicating a potential shift in the stock’s trend. This development coincides with growing scrutiny over Nestle’s practices, highlighting the importance of ethical considerations in corporate decision-making, particularly in the sensitive area of infant nutrition.
