The World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for Europe are strict when it comes to added sugars or sweeteners in food for children under three years old, aiming to prevent obesity and chronic diseases. However, these guidelines do not have specific directives for other regions. Despite this, researchers argue that the European standards have global significance.
A recent report by Swiss investigative organization Public Eye, as reported by The Guardian, has shed light on Nestlé’s practices regarding added sugars in its baby-food products. Samples from Nestlé’s baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were tested and found to contain added sugars such as sucrose or honey. This contrasts with Nestlé’s products in European markets, including the UK, which do not have added sugars in formulas for young children. While some cereals aimed at older toddlers may contain added sugars in European markets, products for babies between six months and one year remain sugar-free.
Laurent Gaberell, Public Eye’s agriculture and nutrition expert, stressed the need to end these double standards globally, urging Nestlé to stop adding sugar to all products for children under three years old worldwide.
Obesity is a growing concern globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO reports a significant increase in overweight children under five in Africa since 2000, highlighting the urgency of addressing nutrition standards for young children.
In the UK and the United States, guidelines discourage offering foods with added sugars to young children due to concerns about weight gain and dental health.
In response to these findings, a Nestlé spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to the nutritional quality of its products for early childhood. They mentioned compliance with local regulations and international standards, including labeling requirements and carbohydrate content thresholds that encompass sugars. The spokesperson also noted Nestlé’s efforts to reduce added sugars in its infant cereals and phase out sugars from “growing-up milks” aimed at toddlers globally.