Nestle refutes allegation of adding sugars to infant formulas

By Doris Obinna

Nestlé Nigeria PLC, has restated that it applies the same principles of nutrition, health, and wellness worldwide, aligning with both international and local guidelines and regulations.
While stating that it does not compromise the nutritional value of our products for infants and young children, Nestle Nigeria refuted the allegations of adding sugars to infant formulas.
Nestle assured that in Nigeria, like everywhere in the world, “We do not add sugars (sucrose and glucose) to infant formulas for children aged 0-12 months. Also, all our growing-up milk (12 – 36 months) in Nigeria has no added sugars.”
The beverage giant refuted a report published recently by Swiss NGO Public Eye saying that “two of the best-selling baby-food brands marketed by Nestle in low- and middle-income countries contain high levels of added sugar, while such products are sugar-free in its home country, Switzerland.”
Nestlé maintained that it adheres to the same principles of nutrition, health, and wellness globally, complying with local regulations and international standards, which include labelling requirements and carbohydrate content limits.
Nestle’s Nigeria, Head of Corporate Communications, Victoria Uwadoka, provided the clarification in a press release on Friday.
The release titled, “Position Statement Regarding Added Sugars In Infant Milks And Cereals,” partly reads,” To be clear, there is no double standard.
“We apply the same nutrition, health, and wellness principles everywhere in the world, which are aligned with both international and local guidelines and regulations.
“These guidelines and regulations include compliance with labelling requirements and thresholds on carbohydrate content, encompassing sugars.”
In its report, Public Eye also cited the Cerelac brand of flour-based cereals for six-month-olds, which it said had more than five grams of sugar per portion in Ethiopia and six grams in Thailand while it had none in Germany or Britain.
Clarifying this, Uwadoka explained that regarding infant cereals (from six months), there may be slight variations in recipes around the world.
“The sugar content of our range of infant cereals follows strict international and local regulations and does not compromise the nutritional value of our products for infants and young children.
“In Europe, Nestlé’s range of infant cereals comes with and without added sugars. Our milk and cereals for infants and young children are fortified with vitamins and minerals such as iron to help tackle malnutrition in Central and West Africa,” she added.