Center requests that FSSAI take action against Nestle in response to the sugar content in the Cerelac study

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been requested by the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry to take “appropriate action” against Nestle for allegedly selling infant goods with excessive sugar content in India rather than in European nations.

In contrast to markets in Europe, the global food and beverage giant is allegedly selling baby products with high sugar content in poorer south Asian (including India), African, and Latin American countries. This accusation stems from a report published by the Swiss non-governmental organization Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN).

For the research, around 150 infant goods that were offered in various nations were examined.

According to the investigation, each serving of Nestle’s wheat-based six-month baby formula Cerelac in India had 2.7 grams of added sugar. Nevertheless, Germany and the UK did not follow suit.

“As per the news reports, Public Eye, an investigation agency based in Switzerland, has published a report highlighting concerning findings about Nestle’s manufacturing practices in India,” said Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare in a letter to FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Rao on April 18. The article claims that the Nestle Company adds 2.7 grams of sugar per serving to Nestle Cerelac infant cereal marketed in India while abstaining from similar actions in other nations including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and France.

Khare went on to say that there are major worries regarding the safety of children in the nation and the possible consequences of the excessive sugar content in infant items.

In reference to the “practices of Nestle Company regarding the composition of Nestle Cerelac baby cereals sold in India,” he requested that the FSSAI investigate the matter further.