Nestlé Sugar criticism grows as NGOs claim higher sugar in African infant cereals, sparking debate on nutrition standards and regulatory oversight

Nestlé has come under scrutiny after Swiss NGO Public Eye alleged that the company sells infant cereals in Africa containing higher sugar levels than in developed markets, sparking a Nestlé Sugar Criticism debate over baby nutrition standards.

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The report, highlighted in Lagos by Nigeria’s Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), examined nearly 100 Cerelac products and found that over 90 per cent contained added sugar—a practice reportedly absent in Europe.

Nestlé dismissed the claims in a statement, insisting that there are no “double standards when it comes to early childhood nutrition.”

The company argued that reported sugar levels reflect naturally occurring sugars from milk and fruit, not refined sugar, and said all products comply with Codex Alimentarius thresholds applied globally.

“No-added-sugar variants are already available in Ghana, and we are expanding to other countries in Central and West Africa. In Nigeria, our infant cereals without added sugars are undergoing regulatory approvals,” Nestlé added.

Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, Director of CADEF, criticised the company’s practice, warning that early exposure to added sugar could contribute to obesity, diabetes, dental decay, and lifelong preference for sweetened foods.

She urged Nigerians to define local nutrition standards rather than rely solely on Codex benchmarks.

Laurent Gaberell, Public Eye’s Food Systems Researcher, described the investigation as revealing “dangerously high and hidden sugar levels” and highlighted unclear labelling, which prevents consumers from distinguishing added sugar from natural sugar.

He called for revised Codex standards, arguing that the current 30 per cent sugar allowance is outdated and unsupported by scientific evidence.

The report prompted responses from Nigerian authorities. Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency General Manager Afolabi Solebo described it as a serious public health concern, pledging collaboration with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to safeguard children.

NAFDAC Director Dr Ifeoma Okafor also weighed in, emphasising that all infant foods undergo careful evaluation before approval.

She noted that Codex and Nigeria’s Industrial Standards permit ingredients like sucrose, glucose syrup, and honey in cereals, provided total added carbohydrates do not exceed 7.5 grams per 100 kilocalories, with added sucrose under 0.9 grams per kilocalorie.

“Adherence to Codex standards determines compliance. Variations in product formulation across countries do not automatically constitute a violation. Being a developing nation does not mean Nigeria compromises on nutritional quality,” Dr Okafor said.

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The controversy has reignited debate over infant nutrition in Africa, raising calls for stricter regulation and clearer labelling to ensure the health and wellbeing of young children.