Swiss food firm’s infant formula and cereal sold in global south ignore WHO anti-obesity guidelines for Europe, says Public Eye

Swiss food firm’s infant formula and cereal sold in global south ignore WHO anti-obesity guidelines for Europe, says Public Eye

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, a report has found.

Campaigners from Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, sent samples of the Swiss multinational’s baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing.

The results, and examination of product packaging, revealed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in samples of Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for use for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years.

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.

  • @Sweetpeaches69English
    53•8 months ago

    I felt so betrayed the other day when I looked at my San Pellegrino and saw it was a Nestlé company.

    • @DohnuthutEnglish
      23•8 months ago

      As of now, the only product I have to buy to support this atrocious company is Fancy Feast because it’s the only food my picky senior cat will eat.

      • @jpepsEnglish
        8•8 months ago

        Ugh their firm grip on the pet food market endlessly pisses me off. I paid for a fancy B Corp certified cat food brand for years before realising it had been bought out by Nestlé

      • @[email protected]English
        6•8 months ago

        You’re feeding your cat the equivalent of potato chips. No shit it’s all they want to eat lol

        Edit: I can’t read. See below

        • @SoggyEnglish
          2•8 months ago

          At least they’re hydrating potato chips. Kidney failure is a big problem for cats, sticking to an all-wet diet is already better than average.

          • @[email protected]English
            1•8 months ago

            Oh. I genuinely misread OP’s post as Friskies, not Fancy Feast. I agree any wet food is miles better than dry food. Apologies @[email protected]

            I will take this opportunity to plug https://catfooddb.com to find quality wet foods because not all are created equally. Many have more fat than protein, which is not normal in the diet of a cat in the wild.

            My personal recommendation is Tiki Cat

    • @kautauEnglish
      17•8 months ago

      And Perrier, because why have one competing brand when you could have all of them

      • @disguy_ovaheaEnglish
        9•8 months ago

        Perrier bought San Pelegrino, then Nestle bought Perrier. Perrier Group of America owned several water brands in the ‘90s and early ‘00s.