Fssai seeks Nestle’s explanation on report of added sugar in Cerelac
Nestle India after Swiss investigative organisation Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network said in a report that the packaged foods maker adds 2.2 gm sugar per serving to its baby foods brand Cerelac in India.
Existing World Health Organisation guidelines ban added sugars in baby food products.
“The Fssai has taken cognisance of the matter and has sought an explanation from Nestle India,” said a senior official from the national foods sector regulator. The authority held a meeting of its officials on Thursday to evaluate the matter.
The India unit of Swiss multinational Nestle SA, in an email to ET, said it has reduced sugar by 30% in Cerelac over the past five years.
The company, which also sells the Maggi noodles, Kitkat chocolates and Nescafe coffee, said in a statement that its products were manufactured in the country “in full compliance” with standards set under CODEX (a commission established by WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization) and local specifications pertaining to the requirements of nutrients including added sugars.
On Thursday, Nestle India’s shares fell as much as 5.4% during intraday trade, the worst in over three years, before closing 3.3% down at Rs 2,462.75 on the BSE.
Milk products and the nutrition category contribute about 40% of domestic sales of the packaged foods maker.
Cerelac has been found to contain an average of nearly 3 gm of sugar per serving in India, according to the report. The study also found added sugars in many other low-and-middle income
