Nestle faces backlash for adding excessive sugar to Cerelac baby cereals in Africa, unlike sugar-free European versions, amid rising childhood obesity concerns.
Swiss food giant Nestle is under fire once again for allegedly applying double standards in its baby food products, with a new investigation revealing high levels of added sugar in cereals sold across Africa—levels absent from similar items in Europe.
The report, unveiled Tuesday by Swiss NGO Public Eye, has sparked outrage from health advocates and civil society groups, who accuse the company of prioritizing profits over infant health in lower-income regions.
The probe, conducted in partnership with the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), builds on earlier scrutiny of Nestle’s practices in Asia and Latin America. It claims that 90 percent of nearly 100 Cerelac infant cereal samples tested from 20 African countries contained added sugar, often undisclosed on labels. On average, each serving packed nearly six grams—equivalent to about 1.5 sugar cubes—with the highest at 7.5 grams in a Kenya product aimed at six-month-olds. This contrasts sharply with Nestle’s sugar-free versions in Switzerland, Germany, and the UK, where products for babies from six months onward adhere to stricter health norms.
Public Eye’s findings echo a 2024 investigation that prompted Nestle to reformulate 14 Cerelac variants in India, the brand’s largest market. Yet, in Africa, the practice persists, with levels 50 percent higher than those previously detected in Asia and Latin America, and double those in India. “Nestle knows full well that added sugar harms infants, yet continues to dump sugary products on African babies,” said a statement from South Africa’s Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA), one of the critics. The NGO argues this fosters a lifelong sweet tooth, flouting 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines that warn against early sugar exposure to prevent obesity and chronic diseases.
Double Standards Exposed
In an open letter dated November 17 and addressed to Nestle CEO Philipp Navratil, 19 Africa-based organizations—including groups from Benin, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa—demanded an immediate halt to sugary baby products on the continent. “If added sugar is not suitable for Swiss and European children, it is not suitable for children in Africa and beyond,” the letter states, emphasizing equal rights to healthy nutrition regardless of nationality or skin color. Signatories like the Healthy Living Alliance and groundWork accused Nestle of “deliberately putting the health of African babies at risk for profit.”
The investigation, analyzed by French lab Inovalys, spotlights Cerelac’s popularity in Africa, where it’s marketed as “specially designed” for local nutritional needs. In South Africa, three-quarters of products contain over 4.9 grams of sugar per serving, more than a teaspoon, despite Nestle’s own website acknowledging sugar’s risks. Critics point to aggressive marketing, including influencer endorsements, as exacerbating the issue in vulnerable markets.
Nestle’s Defense
Nestle has vehemently denied the allegations, calling Public Eye’s report “misleading and unfounded.” A spokesperson told Al Jazeera that the company maintains consistent nutrition standards globally and treats all children equally. “We do not have double standards,” they insisted, noting that both sugared and sugar-free variants are offered at similar prices in Africa and Europe. The firm is accelerating a global rollout of no-added-sugar options, claiming 97 percent market coverage already, with full implementation by end-2025.
Nestle also emphasized adherence to strict labeling and local regulations, and requested more details on Public Eye’s methodologies, which it says haven’t been provided. While acknowledging obesity’s rise, the company argues undernutrition remains Africa’s “most urgent health concern,” and that recipe variations never compromise safety or quality.
Rising Health Concerns in Africa
Africa grapples with a “double burden” of malnutrition and obesity, where underweight and overweight coexist. WHO data shows overweight children under five nearly doubled since 1990, now affecting 5 percent continent-wide, with South Africa’s rate soaring to 22 percent by 2022—over four times the global average. Experts warn that added sugar in infancy heightens risks of diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, straining healthcare systems.
Public Eye’s report urges regulatory action, including front-of-package warnings and marketing bans. As social media buzzes with calls for boycotts—posts decrying Nestle as “useless devils” for exploiting Africa—the controversy underscores broader inequities in global food systems. For now, advocates demand swift change: “This must end—now.”
