From Fred Ezeh, Abuja and Merit Ibe
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said it was not aware there was sugar content in some baby formula (foods) produced by Nestle, a Swiss food company that produces infant formula and cereal sold in some African countries including Nigeria.
The Agency, however, said it would take up the matter and carry out further investigation to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the allegation.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, confirmed to Daily Sun that the Agency was yet to be notified of the development. “Nevertheless, the directorate in charge of such an issue will take up the matter. We will speak further on the matter after investigation.”
A UK-based Newspaper, The Guardian, in a recent news report, alleged that Nestle had engaged in double standards in the production of baby formula (food) being sold across the world.
It noted that sugar was being included in baby foods being produced for Africa and other developing countries, thereby, making the consuming children vulnerable to obesity. It also noted that such additions violate World Health Organization (WHO) regulations.
Part of the news report noted: “Nestlé, the world’s largest consumer goods company, adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many ‘poorer’ countries, contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases.
“For instance, biscuit-flavoured cereals for babies aged six months and older contained 6g of added sugar for every serving in Senegal and South Africa. Meanwhile, the same product sold in Switzerland has none.
“Tests on Cerelac products sold in India showed, on average, more than 2.7g of added sugar for every serving. In Brazil, where Cerelac is known as Mucilon, two out of eight products were found to have no added sugar, but the other six contained nearly 4g for each serving.
“In Nigeria, one product tested had up to 6.8g, but in Nestlé’s main European markets, including the UK, there is no added sugar in formulas for young children. While some cereals aimed at older toddlers contain added sugar, there is none in products targeted at babies between six months and one year.
“In the Philippines, products aimed at toddlers contain no added sugar. However, in Indonesia, Nido baby-food products, sold as Dancow, all contained about 2g of added sugar per 100g of product in the form of honey, or 0.8g a serving.
“In Mexico, two of the three Nido products available for toddlers contained no added sugar, but the third contained 1.7g per serving. Nido Kinder 1+ products sold in South-Africa, Nigeria and Senegal all contained nearly 1g per serving.”
When Daily Sun reached out to the Corporate Communications Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, for the company’s reaction, she said she would get back. But she did not get back to the reporter at the time of going to press. But Nestlé spokesperson told the UK-based Newspaper that Nestle believe in the nutritional quality of their products for early childhood, and also prioritise using high-quality ingredients adapted to the growth and development of children.
She said that within the “highly regulated” category of baby food, Nestlé always complied with local regulations or international standards, including labelling requirements and thresholds on carbohydrate content that encompasses sugars, and often declared total sugars in its products, including those coming from honey.
She said the company has reduced the total amount of added sugars in its infant cereals portfolio by 11 per cent worldwide over the past decade, and had continued to reformulate products to reduce them further.
“Sucrose and glucose syrup were being phased out of growing-up milks aimed at toddlers worldwide,” she added.