Six months after the excessive sugar content of Cerelac caused controversy, Nestlé India declared that their baby food would now be available without refined sugar.
The FMCG giant’s exchange filing states that there will now be 21 variations in the cereal-based product line, 14 of which will be refined sugar-free.
Seven of the 14 sugar-free varieties, according to the company, will be sold in Indian stores by the end of November, with the remaining seven scheduled to go on sale in the upcoming weeks.
“We have achieved our ambition of introducing Cerelac variants with no refined sugar. This was initiated three years ago and culminated this year with the introduction of new Cerelac variants with no refined sugar,” Chairman and Managing Director Suresh Narayanan said while announcing the firm’s September quarter earnings.
Narayanan further mentioned that Cerelac, a supplemental food made of cereal from Nestle, is approaching its 50th anniversary in India. On September 15, 1975, the company’s main factory in Moga, Punjab, produced the first batch of Cerelac.
Nestlé Allegations
A difference in sugar content was found between items sold in low-income countries and those in more affluent regions in April of this year, according to an analysis conducted by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN).
Cereals with biscuit flavors, for example, have far more added sugar in some areas than in others, suggesting that babies are treated differently depending on where they are from.
Although Cerelac products in the UK and Europe claim to have no added sugar, their equivalents in other countries, such as India, have an alarming average of more than 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving.
Nestlé was accused of “double standards”. There were calls for Swiss authorities to take legal action against Nestle for unethical business practices in low- and middle-income countries.
Impact of Added Sugar
Increased sugar in baby feeding can have both immediate and long-term negative effects on health.
It is problematic to provide infants and toddlers up to 24 months of age foods with added sugars because during this time they eat very tiny meals.
Young children have less space for nutrient-dense foods if they consume excessively high-calorie, sugar-filled foods and beverages.
It may result in a deficiency of vital nutrients needed for healthy development and growth.
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