• Public Eye claims over 90% of Cerelac samples in Africa contain added sugar, averaging 6 g per portion, while European equivalents contain none.
• Nestlé rejects the allegations as “misleading and unfounded”, saying it complies with national and Codex standards and aims to make 100% of its markets sugar-free by 2025.
• The report says two-thirds of African products lack clear sugar labeling, complicating parents’ ability to assess nutritional quality.

A new investigation from Public Eye reignited scrutiny of Nestlé’s infant nutrition practices in Africa. The Swiss NGO said on 18 November that the multinational sells baby cereals on the continent with higher levels of added sugar than products marketed in Europe.

Nestlé rejected the allegations and said it complies with all applicable regulations.

Public Eye revisited the issue one year after publishing findings on added sugar in Nido and Cerelac products shipped to low-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The NGO said similar products sold in Europe contained no added sugar.

The new investigation involved the purchase of about 100 Cerelac products across 20 African countries. Public Eye and its partners sent the samples to Inovalys, a French laboratory specialising in the food industry.

High Sugar Levels and Alleged Double Standards

Public Eye said over 90% of the analysed products contained added sugar, with an average of six grams per portion. The findings show sugar levels 50% higher than those observed in the organisation’s 2024 study on Asian and Latin American markets. Some formulations reached 7.5 grams per portion, including products for six-month-old infants in Kenya. At least seven African countries recorded sugar levels of seven grams or more.

The NGO highlighted disparities with European markets. In Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom, Cerelac products for six-month-old babies contain no added sugar. Public Eye noted that sugar-free products in Africa remain limited to a few recent launches in South Africa or to unsupervised third-party imports from Europe. The NGO called this a double standard and urged Nestlé to harmonise global formulations with international health recommendations. Twenty civil-society organisations from 13 African countries signed an open letter supporting this demand.

The report also points to transparency gaps. Public Eye said two-thirds of reviewed products did not clearly specify added sugar quantities, making it difficult for African parents to assess nutritional quality. Public-health specialists cited by the NGO warn that early sugar exposure can shape a long-term preference for sweet foods and increase risks of overweight and metabolic diseases.

The concerns come as the number of overweight children under five in Africa has almost doubled since 1990, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO recommends zero added sugar in foods for children under three.

Nestlé disputed Public Eye’s conclusions and called the NGO’s evidence “misleading and unfounded.” The company said it complies with national regulations aligned with Codex Alimentarius standards. It argued that Public Eye did not provide adequate technical details to allow full verification. The company added that some figures include naturally occurring sugars from milk or fruit, which it said distorted the interpretation.

The group highlighted its efforts to expand sugar-free ranges. Nestlé said these products are now available in 97% of markets worldwide, including in Africa, and that it plans full global coverage by end-2025.

Nestlé also said malnutrition remains a major challenge in parts of Africa and that its fortified cereals provide essential micronutrients. The company added that babies naturally prefer a slightly sweet taste, which encourages product acceptance.

Public Eye’s investigation intensified debate on infant nutrition standards. Experts say a technical review between the laboratory and the company could clarify methodological questions. African regulators may tighten sugar rules as WHO recommendations and civil-society pressure gain influence. A petition launched in 2024 already collected more than 100,000 signatures.

Observers will monitor Nestlé’s commitments closely, particularly its pledge to roll out sugar-free products globally by 2025.

This article was initially published in French by Olivier de Souza

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum