The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has sent a letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), urging action against Nestle India. This comes in response to a report by the Swiss investigative organization Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network, which alleges that Nestle India adds 2.2 grams of sugar per serving to its baby food brand Cerelac in India.
Current guidelines from the World Health Organization prohibit the inclusion of added sugars in baby food products.
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Nidhi Khare, secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, wrote to the chief executive of FSSAI, saying, “Based on this report, FSSAI is urged to take appropriate action against Nestle Company.”
Earlier, the Indian division of the Swiss multinational Nestle SA mentioned that it had reduced sugar by 30% in Cerelac over the past five years.
The company, known for its Maggi noodles, Kitkat chocolates, and Nescafe coffee, stated in a release that its products were produced in the country “fully compliant” with standards set by CODEX (a commission established by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization) and local specifications concerning nutrient requirements, including added sugars.
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According to the report, Cerelac in India has been discovered to contain an average of nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving. The study also noted the presence of added sugars in many other low- and middle-income countries, but not in developed markets such as the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and certain other European countries.
