Nestlé, a Swiss food giant, has come under fire for adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries. Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, conducted tests on Nestlé baby food products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and found that products marketed as sugar-free in Europe contained unhealthy levels of sugar in countries like the Philippines, South Africa, and Thailand.
One example highlighted in the investigation was Nestlé’s biscuit-flavored cereals for babies, which contained 6g of added sugar in Senegal and South Africa but none in Switzerland. This discrepancy raises concerns about the impact of added sugar on babies’ health, especially in countries where obesity rates among children are on the rise.
Experts like public health academic Susan Goldstein emphasize the harmful effects of added sugar on babies, including the risk of obesity and related health issues. The World Health Organization has called for a ban on added sugar in products for babies and young children under three years of age to address these concerns.
Multinational companies like Nestlé have been accused of influencing public health policies through lobbying and financial support. In low- and middle-income countries, where trade-offs between economic growth and public health are common, governments are urged to implement regulations on sugar content in baby foods and educate consumers about the risks of added sugars.
While high-income countries have clear guidelines on baby foods, developing countries like South Africa are encouraged to follow suit by imposing limits on sugar and oil content, taxing unhealthy baby foods, and implementing front-of-package warning labels to help parents make informed choices about their children’s nutrition. By taking these steps, governments can protect the health of their youngest citizens and promote healthier eating habits from an early age.