In a recent revelation, Nestlé, the global consumer goods giant, has come under fire for adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in several low-income countries. The findings, unveiled in a report by Public Eye, an investigative organization based in Switzerland, highlight a stark contrast between Nestlé's practices in different regions, particularly concerning infant nutrition guidelines.
According to the report, Nestlé's baby-food products, such as Nido and Cerelac, sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, contain added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey. This practice stands in direct contradiction to international guidelines aimed at curbing obesity and chronic diseases, particularly in children.
Laurent Gaberell, Public Eye's agriculture and nutrition expert, condemned Nestlé's actions, calling for an end to these "dangerous double standards" and urging the company to cease adding sugar to all products for children under three worldwide.
The issue of childhood obesity is particularly pertinent in low- and middle-income countries, where the prevalence of overweight children has been on the rise. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a nearly 23% increase in overweight children under five in Africa since 2000, with over 1 billion people globally living with obesity.
One of the challenges highlighted by the report is the difficulty consumers face in identifying added sugars in products, especially in regions where labeling regulations may not be as stringent. While WHO guidelines for the European region strictly prohibit added sugars in food for children under three, similar directives are lacking in other parts of the world.
Dr. Nigel Rollins from the WHO criticized Nestlé's practices as unjustifiable double standards, emphasizing the need for consistency in nutritional standards across regions.
The report also revealed significant variations in sugar levels across different countries. For instance, Cerelac products in India contained an average of more than 2.7g of added sugar per serving, while similar products in Switzerland contained none.
In response to the allegations, a Nestlé spokesperson defended the nutritional quality of their products, stating that they comply with local regulations and international standards. The spokesperson highlighted Nestlé's efforts to reduce added sugars in their infant cereals portfolio by 11% over the past decade and their ongoing commitment to further reformulation.
However, concerns persist regarding the impact of added sugars on children's health, particularly in regions where obesity rates are already high. The discrepancy in Nestlé's product formulations raises questions about corporate responsibility and the need for uniform nutritional standards to safeguard children's health worldwide.
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