The Nido and Cerelac in Nigeria is Unhealthy
An investigation by a Swiss NGO revealed high levels of added sugar in Nestle baby food products sold in developing countries.
Samples of Nido milk formula (for children aged 1+) and Cerelac infant cereal (for ages 6 months to 2 years) from Asia, Africa, and Latin America were tested by a Belgian lab. The testing found sucrose and honey as added sugars in these products.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends no added sugar for children under three in Europe. Sugar consumption in newborns and young children is needless and addicting, resulting in a negative loop of craving sugary foods raising the risk of food-related conditions in adulthood.
While there are no specific guidelines for other countries, many experts believe the same principles should apply globally.
A sample from Nigeria even had up to 6.8 grams of added sugar. Cerelac in India contained an average of over 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving. In Brazil (where Cerelac is called Mucilon), six out of eight samples had nearly four grams of added sugar per serving
A Nestle spokesperson defended the company’s practices. They told the Guardian that they prioritize using high-quality ingredients for child development and comply with local regulations and international standards regarding labeling and sugar content.
While adhering to technical regulations, they may not be prioritizing the health of children globally by adding unnecessary sugar to baby food.