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In a pointed critique of global food standards, Swiss non-governmental organisation Public Eye has accused Nestlé of maintaining a double standard regarding the sugar content in its infant cereals sold in Africa compared to those available in more developed markets.

This allegation, which has sparked significant concern among health advocates, highlights the complexities of nutrition and marketing practices within the multinational food industry.

Public Eye, in collaboration with various civil society organisations across the continent, conducted a comprehensive analysis of nearly 100 products from Nestlé’s Cerelac range.

The findings revealed that over 90% of the infant cereals tested contained substantially higher levels of added sugars than those sold in Europe. Specifically, the average serving analysed contained nearly 6g of added sugar, which is double the amount found in similar products in India, a key market for Nestlé.

Nestlé has responded vigorously to these claims, asserting that the report's allegations are "misleading and unfounded". A spokesperson told Reuters that the levels of added sugars in their infant cereals comply with the standards set by the Codex Alimentarius, the international food standards body.

The company clarified that sugars naturally present in ingredients such as fruits, milk and cereals should not be conflated with refined sugars added during production.

This latest controversy follows a similar report from Public Eye earlier this year, which raised concerns about the sugar content in baby foods marketed to low-income countries, including India.

The renewed focus on Africa has prompted an open letter from the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and 19 civil society organisations from 13 African nations, urging Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil to address what they describe as a concerning disparity in nutritional standards.

Nestlé, however, maintains that its approach to nutrition is consistent across all markets. “We do not have double standards,” the company stated. “Our commitment to children’s nutrition is uniform, regardless of geographical location.”

Furthermore, Nestlé announced plans to accelerate the rollout of no-added-sugar variants, which are already present in 97% of its markets, with a goal to reach 100% by the end of 2025.