Swiss NGO Public Eye on Tuesday accused global food giant Nestlé of applying double standards by allegedly selling infant cereals in Africa with higher sugar content than those sold in more developed markets — a claim the company has strongly denied, calling it “misleading and unfounded.”
Working alongside civil society groups across Africa, Public Eye said it collected nearly 100 samples of Nestlé’s Cerelac instant infant cereal. According to the organisation, laboratory tests revealed that over 90% of the products marketed in African countries contained what it described as “high quantities of added sugar,” unlike similar products sold in Europe.
Nestlé, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the report misrepresents its formulations.
“If we exclude sugars coming from ingredients like milk, cereals and fruit, our Cerelac infant cereals do not contain the levels of added refined sugars mentioned in the report,” the company said in a statement.
This is not the first time Nestlé has faced scrutiny over its product formulations in developing markets. In April 2024, Public Eye accused the company of adding sugar to baby foods sold in low-income countries such as India, while offering sugar-free versions in Europe. That earlier report prompted an inquiry by India’s food regulator.
Tuesday’s release revisits those concerns, this time placing the spotlight squarely on African markets amid growing calls for stronger consumer protection and nutritional transparency.
