Nestlé and NGO Battle Over Baby Food Standards

Nestlé has faced increased attention following a report by the Swiss non-profit organization Public Eye, which claimed that the company mark...

Nestléhas faced increased attention following a report by the Swiss non-profit organization Public Eye, which claimed that the company markets infant cereals in Africa with higher sugar levels compared to those sold in developed regions, sparking discussion about nutritional guidelines for infants in the area.

At a press conference held in Lagos earlier this week, Nigeria's Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation released a report stating that laboratory analyses of almost 100 products from Nestlé's Cerelac line revealed that over 90 percent contained added sugar, a practice the organization claims is not present in Europe.

Nestlé dismissed the allegations, stating in an email to Sunday PUNCH that it "does not hold double standards regarding early childhood nutrition." The leading baby food company mentioned that it had conveyed its stance to Public Eye last year, arguing that the reported sugar levels came from naturally occurring sugars found in ingredients such as milk and fruit, not from refined added sugar.

The company also mentioned that all its infant cereals meet the Codex Alimentarius standards, which are consistently applied in every market. It also emphasized continuous initiatives to increase the availability of no-added-sugar options in Africa, including items currently going through regulatory review in Nigeria.

"Variants without added sugar are already present in Ghana, and we are extending our reach to other countries in Central and West Africa. In Nigeria, our infant cereals that do not contain added sugars are currently going through regulatory approvals," the email mentioned.

At a press briefing, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, the Director of the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation, characterized the results as a conscious corporate decision that subjected African infants to sugar concentrations deemed inappropriate in European markets.

She cautioned that early contact with added sugar might lead to obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and a long-term reliance on sweetened foods.

"Consumers are clear: they desire no added sugar in baby foods. There is no reason to include extra sugar when natural sugars are already present in the ingredients," Ndukwe-Okafor said to journalists.

The executive urged Nigerians to establish their own nutrition standards instead of depending on obsolete Codex guidelines and mentioned that CADEF and other African organizations are writing to Nestlé's global president seeking the same quality for African children.

A researcher from Public Eye's Food Systems team, Laurent Gaberell, stated that the study found "dangerously high and concealed sugar amounts" and pointed out the absence of transparent labeling, highlighting that consumers are unable to tell added sugar apart from natural sugar without scientific analysis.

He also called on regulators to update Codex guidelines, which allow as much as 30 percent added sugar in infant cereals, describing them as obsolete and not backed by scientific evidence.

The report led to reactions from Nigerian officials. Afolabi Solebo, the General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, referred to the findings as a significant public health issue and promised to work with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and other relevant parties to safeguard children.

In reply to worries, NAFDAC Director Dr Ifeoma Okafor mentioned that the organization thoroughly examines every infant food product prior to granting approval.

She pointed out that both the Codex Alimentarius and Nigeria's Industrial Standards permit the use of ingredients such as sucrose, fructose, glucose syrup, and honey in infant cereals, as long as the overall added carbohydrates remain under 7.5 grams per 100 kilocalories and added sucrose is less than 0.9 grams per kilocalorie.

"Compliance is determined by following Codex standards. Differences in product formulation between countries do not necessarily mean a breach has occurred. As a developing country, Nigeria does not sacrifice nutritional quality," she added.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).