REPUTATION

Nestlé criticised over claims it adds sugar to some African products

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

Swiss report says some Nestlé children’s products in emerging markets have too much sugar and honey. Company says it meets global standards.

Global consumer goods company Nestlé has found itself entangled in a reputation controversy in Africa and other emerging markets over claims that it adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries.

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

 

Public Eye, a Swiss-based investigative organisation, says this is contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases. 

 

The London-based newspaper, The Guardian, reports that Public Eye sent samples of baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing. 

 

The results, and examination of product packaging, revealed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for use for infants aged one and above. 

 

This was also true for its Cerelac product, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years. 

 

“In Nestlé’s main European markets, including the UK, there is no added sugar in formulas for young children. While some cereals aimed at older toddlers contain added sugar, there is none in products targeted at babies between six months and one year,” The Guardian states. 

 

It quotes Laurent Gaberell, Public Eye’s agriculture and nutrition expert, as saying: “Nestlé must put an end to these dangerous double standards and stop adding sugar in all products for children under three years old, in every part of the world.” 

 

World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the European region say no added sugars or sweetening agents should be permitted in any food for children under three. While no guidance has been specifically produced for other regions, researchers say the European document remains equally relevant to other parts of the world. 

 

According to the Public Eye report, biscuit-flavoured cereals for babies aged six months and older contained 6g of added sugar for every serving in Senegal and South Africa, researchers found. The same product sold in Switzerland has none. 

 

Nestlé Africa responds to report 

 

Mota Mota, a spokesperson for Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region, told the AMC news team: “We uphold stringent regulations and standards within the realm of baby food, ensuring consistency in nutrition, health, and wellness principles across all regions, in accordance with international guidelines and regulations.  

 

“This commitment encompasses adherence to labelling requirements, particularly regarding carbohydrate content, which encompasses sugars, with full transparency to consumers regarding total sugar content. 

 

“While slight recipe variations may exist across countries due to factors like regulations, consumer preferences, and ingredient availability, these adjustments do not compromise the nutritional integrity of our products designed for infants and young children.  

 

“We have undertaken significant efforts to minimise sugar content throughout our product range, including the phased removal of added sugars such as sucrose and glucose syrup from our growing-up milks for children above 12 months worldwide. 

 

“Continual innovation and reformulation are core aspects of our approach, ensuring that our products for infants and young children meet local regulations and/or international standards, including those set forth by Codex.” 

 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: “When food producers and traders comply with Codex standards, consumers can trust the safety and quality of the products they buy, and importers can have confidence that the food they ordered will meet the specifications.” 

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.