Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, is facing widespread backlash following a damning report accusing it of adding excessive sugar to its Cerelac infant cereals marketed across Africa, while equivalent products in Europe remain free of added sweeteners.
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The exposé, released by Swiss nonprofit Public Eye on November 18, 2025, claims the practice violates World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, which advise against any added sugars for children under two to reduce risks of obesity, tooth decay, and lifelong sugar addiction. Lab tests on nearly 100 Cerelac samples from 20 African nations including major markets like Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya revealed added sugars in over 90% of products, averaging almost 6 grams per 30-gram serving (roughly 1.5 sugar cubes). One variant targeted at six-month-olds in Kenya contained 7.5 grams equivalent to nearly two sugar cubes with similar high levels (at least 7 grams) found in products from seven countries, including Benin, Cameroon, and Morocco.
In stark contrast, Cerelac lines for infants starting at six months in Switzerland, Germany, and the UK contain zero added sugar, adhering strictly to European standards. Public Eye notes that the few sugar-free options available in Africa are typically imported from Europe, while locally produced versions prioritize sweetened formulas, fueling accusations of discriminatory practices in lower-income markets.
The revelations have sparked outrage among public health experts and civil society, who decry the disparity as a profit-driven betrayal of vulnerable children. A coalition of 19 African organizations spanning nations like Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, and Zimbabwe penned an open letter to Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil on November 17, demanding an immediate recall of sweetened Cerelac across the continent. “If added sugar is not suitable for Swiss and European children, it is not suitable for children in Africa and beyond. All babies have an equal right to healthy nutrition, regardless of their nationality or skin color,” the groups wrote, labeling the tactic a “deliberate risk to African babies’ health for profit.”
Social media has echoed this sentiment, with users in Africa highlighting the perceived hypocrisy. One viral post questioning the silence of local leaders and medical bodies [NAFDAC] . South African activists, through groups like HEALA, have called for regulatory probes, noting that local Cerelac contains 4 grams of added sugar per serving double the global no-added-sugar norm.
This scandal emerges amid Africa’s “double burden” of malnutrition: WHO data indicate that overweight children under five have nearly doubled since 1990, from 5.4% to 9.4% globally, with Africa seeing sharp rises even as stunting affects 29% of children under five. Critics argue that Nestlé’s formulations exacerbate this by introducing infants to sweetness early, mirroring a 2024 Public Eye probe into Asia and Latin America that found 50% less sugar in comparable products.
Nestlé has vehemently denied the charges, with a spokesperson telling Al Jazeera and Reuters that Public Eye’s report relies on “misleading and unfounded allegations,” conflating naturally occurring sugars from milk and cereals with added sugars. The company insists its nutrition standards are “consistent across all countries,” complying with local laws, Codex Alimentarius limits, and its own policies capping added sugars at 10% of energy a threshold it says none of the tested products exceed.
In a detailed response to the civil society letter, Nestlé highlighted Africa’s persistent undernutrition crisis affecting 149 million children globally in 2022 and defended sweetened variants as energy boosters in calorie-scarce regions. It pledged to accelerate no-added-sugar rollouts, targeting full availability in all markets, including Africa, by December 31, 2025, building on recent launches in South Africa and imports elsewhere. “We treat all children equally, irrespective of where they are,” the firm reiterated, emphasizing transparent labeling and the fact that sweetened products are not marketed as “healthy” for under-twos.
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