Nestle, the global food and beverage giant, is facing scrutiny for adding sugar to baby cereals sold across Africa, a practice that has sparked criticism from civil society groups and public health experts on the continent.
- Nestle is facing criticism for adding sugar to baby cereals sold in Africa while equivalent products in Europe are sugar-free.
- A Public Eye investigation revealed that most Cerelac products in Africa contain added sugar, contrary to WHO guidelines.
- Civil society groups accuse Nestle of applying ‘double standards’ and demand the withdrawal of such sugar-laden products from Africa.
- Nestle denies the allegations, stating their nutritional approach is uniform across regions and aims to provide options without added sugar.
A recent investigation by Swiss NGO Public Eye highlights that Cerelac products marketed in African countries contain added sugar, while equivalent products in Europe are sugar-free.
Advocates argue this represents “double standards” that put the health of African children at risk, raising urgent questions about corporate responsibility, nutrition, and equity in African markets.
Sugar in African Cerelac Products
The report, released on Tuesday and confirmed by Al Jazeera, found that most Cerelac infant cereals sold in African countries contained added sugar, while the same products in Europe, including Switzerland, Germany, and the UK, are sold with none.
This contradicts 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which warn that early sugar exposure can create long-term preferences for sugary foods and contribute to childhood obesity.
Civil Society Condemns “Double Standards”
In an open letter sent to Nestle CEO Philipp Navratil on November 17, 19 Africa-based civil society organisations said this demonstrated “double standards” and demanded that sugar-laden baby foods be withdrawn from the continent.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 reads.
Nestle Responds to Allegations
Nestle rejected the allegations, calling the report “misleading and unfounded.” A company spokesperson told reporters, “We do not have double standards, our approach to nutrition is consistent across all countries.
Nestle is committed to the wellbeing of children everywhere in the world, and we treat all children equally, irrespective of where they are.”
The company said it offers versions of its cereals both with and without added sugar in Africa and Europe, adding that “no added sugar” variants are already available in 97 percent of its markets and will reach 100 percent by the end of 2025.
Rising Childhood Obesity in Africa
Childhood obesity is increasingly a concern across Africa, where about 5.1% of children under five are overweight, and the total number has nearly doubled since 1990. WHO warns that many African countries now face a “double burden” of malnutrition and obesity.
Public Eye analysed nearly 100 Cerelac products across 20 African countries, finding that 90 percent contained added sugar.
On average, each serving contained nearly six grams of added sugar, about one-and-a-half sugar cubes, with the highest amount, 7.5 grams, found in a product for six-month-old babies sold in Kenya.
Other African countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Ethiopia, also showed high sugar levels in Cerelac products, ranging from 4.2 to 6.8 grams per serving.
Civil Society Criticises Corporate Priorities
Civil society groups argue that Nestle’s practices prioritise profit over the health of African children. “Let us be clear: By adding sugar to infant cereals, Nestle is deliberately putting the health of African babies at risk for profit. This must end, now,” they said.
In the context of careful scrutiny in Europe, the Swiss-based beverage and food giant faces criticism for appearing biased in its treatment of African markets.
“All babies have an equal right to healthy nutrition, regardless of their nationality or skin color.” the letter reads.
Nestle Maintains Focus on Nutrition and Safety
Nestle responded that undernutrition remains the “most urgent health concern” in Africa and that it does not compromise on product safety or nutritional quality. The company also noted that it adheres to strict labelling standards and analytical testing, with 14 sugar-free Cerelac variants recently introduced in India following a similar report.
