Centre asks FSSAI to initiate action against Nestle after sugar content in Cerelac report

The Union Consumer Affairs Ministry has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to initiate “appropriate action” against Nestle, which allegedly sells baby products with high sugar content in India, and not in European countries.

According to a report by a Swiss NGO, Public Eye and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), the global food and beverage giant is accused of selling baby products with high sugar content over and above international food safety guidelines in poorer south Asian (including India), African and Latin American countries as compared to markets in Europe.

About 150 baby products sold in different countries were scrutinised for the report.

The report claims that Nestle’s wheat-based product, Cerelac, for six-month babies, contained 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving in India. However, the same was not done in the UK and Germany.

In a letter to the FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Rao on April 18, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said, “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. According to the report, Nestle Company has been alleged to add 2.7g of sugar per serving to Nestle Cerelac baby cereals sold in India while refraining from such practices in other countries such as Germany, Switzerland, France & UK.”