Swiss NGO Public Eye has accused Nestlé of maintaining a double standard regarding the sugar content in its infant cereals sold in Africa compared to those in more developed markets. The critique, which has drawn concern from health advocates, underscores ongoing debates over nutrition and marketing practices in the global food industry.
In collaboration with civil society organisations across Africa, Public Eye analysed nearly 100 products from Nestlé’s Cerelac range. The study found that over 90% of the infant cereals tested contained substantially higher levels of added sugars than those sold in Europe, with the average serving containing nearly 6 grams of added sugar—double the amount found in similar products in India.
Nestlé responded by rejecting the allegations as “misleading and unfounded,” stating that the sugar levels in their infant cereals comply with Codex Alimentarius standards. The company emphasized that naturally occurring sugars in ingredients like fruits, milk, and cereals should not be confused with refined sugars added during production.
This controversy follows a similar report earlier in 2025 that questioned the sugar content in baby foods marketed to low-income countries, including India. The renewed focus on Africa prompted an open letter from the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and 19 civil society organisations from 13 African nations, calling on Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil to address what they describe as a concerning disparity in nutritional standards.
Nestlé maintains that its approach to nutrition is consistent across all markets, asserting, “We do not have double standards. Our commitment to children’s nutrition is uniform, regardless of geographical location.” The company also announced plans to accelerate the rollout of no-added-sugar variants, which are already present in 97% of its markets, aiming for full availability by the end of 2025.
