Nestlé Nigeria Plc has issued a firm response to recent allegations concerning the addition of sugar to its baby food products sold in Africa, contrasting with sugar-free versions offered in Europe. This controversy emerges amidst escalating concerns over childhood obesity on the African continent, where early exposure to added sugars in infant food could potentially elevate the risk of obesity and associated health issues. An investigation previously highlighted that over 90 percent of tested Cerelac products distributed across 20 African countries contained added sugar, frequently surpassing the levels found in products marketed in European regions. This finding has prompted calls for Nestlé to harmonize its product formulations globally to safeguard infant health.

Toju Egbebi, Corporate Affairs Manager for Nestlé Nigeria, strongly defended the company's practices, emphasizing the full transparency of their product composition and asserting that consumers are not misled regarding the sugar content in their Cerelac recipes. Egbebi underscored that Nestlé's formulations strictly comply with the Codex Alimentarius international standards for infant nutrition. These standards, established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), serve as the foundational benchmark for local nutritional regulations in countries such as Nigeria.

A significant aspect of the dispute revolves around the definition and measurement of sugars. Egbebi characterized the report from Public Eye as "misleading and scientifically inaccurate," particularly concerning its reference to total sugar content. She clarified that the report fails to differentiate between naturally occurring sugars present in ingredients like milk, cereals, and fruit, and genuinely added, refined sugars. "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," Egbebi stated. The company insists that sugar is clearly declared on Nigerian product labels, where it is incorporated into the total carbohydrate amount, and that their formulations fully adhere to the country's current food safety and labelling regulations.

Furthermore, Nestlé maintains that it operates under a single, stringent global standard for early childhood nutrition. Egbebi unequivocally dismissed any suggestion of a "double standard," highlighting that the company's internal guidelines establish a threshold for added sugars that is "well below the CODEX Alimentarius" limits. "We apply our threshold everywhere, consistently, including in Nigeria," she assured parents. To substantiate their position, Nestlé revealed that they have formally requested further details regarding Public Eye's product analyses and methodologies, information which they claim has not yet been provided. The company aims to reassure parents about the healthiness of its infant cereals and acknowledges the need for diverse options. Nestlé affirmed its long-standing efforts to diversify its product portfolio, with the goal of introducing no-added-sugar variants globally. In the Central and West Africa region, no-refined-sugar variants are already available in Ghana and are currently undergoing regulatory approvals in Nigeria.