Nestle's baby food in India loaded with high levels of sugar and honey: Reports

• Nestle's leading baby food brands in low and middle-income countries found to contain high levels of added sugar and honey
• In India, Cerelac baby cereals were found to contain nearly 3 grams of added sugar per serving
• Whereas, in European markets Nestle's baby products are free from added sugar 

A recent report by the Swiss investigative organization Public Eye has uncovered high levels of added sugar and honey in Nestle's leading baby food brands. Contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases, these sugar contents were found in Nestle's brands promoted in low and middle-income countries.

Nido is a follow-up milk formula brand intended for use for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years.

In India, where sales exceeded 250 million dollars in 2022, all Cerelac baby cereals were found to contain added sugar, averaging nearly 3 grams per serving. Similarly, in South Africa, the main market on the African continent, all Cerelac baby cereals contained four grams or more of added sugar per serving.

In Brazil, the world's second-largest market with sales of around 150 million dollars in 2022, three-quarters of Cerelac baby cereals (known as Mucilon) contained added sugar, averaging 3 grams per serving.

However, the report noted a different scenario in Nestle's main European markets, including the UK, where formulas for young children did not contain added sugar. This is in line with guidelines from the World Health Organisation for the European region, which prohibit added sugars or sweetening agents in any food for children under three.

Meanwhile, tests on products from the Nido brand, which has worldwide retail sales of more than 1 billion dollars, revealed significant variation in sugar levels.