Reduced 30% added sugar in 5 years: Nestlé on infant cereal range in India

livemint.com:

The Guardian reported that the Swiss foods company adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in “poorer countries". It cited data from Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) that examined Nestlé baby food brands sold in these markets. Public Eye examined 115 products sold in Nestlé’s main markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America across two key brands—Cerelac and Nodi.

In India, all Cerelac baby cereal products examined by Public Eye contained added sugar—on average nearly 3 gm per serving. “Almost all the Cerelac infant cereals examined contain added sugar–nearly 4 grams per serving on average, equal to roughly a sugar cube– although they are targeted at babies from six months of age. The highest amount—7.3 grams per serving—was detected in a product sold in the Philippines," it said.

In Europe, the company does not add any sugar in its infant nutrition products. “Two of the best-selling baby-food brands marketed by Nestlé in low- and middle-income countries contain high levels of added sugar, while such products are sugar free in its home country, Switzerland," according to an investigation by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). Meanwhile, the company’s India spokesperson added that the company “regularly" reviews its portfolio and continues to innovate and reformulate products to further reduce the level of added sugars without compromising on quality, safety and taste.