Amid controversy surrounding its infant formula products, Nestle India today said it does not consider the nutritional value of its products. Industry insiders are following a recent report by Swiss law enforcement agency Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) alleging that the company is adding sugar to its infant formula products in India. has strongly opposed Nestleind.
In response to questions from Business Today, a Nestle India spokesperson said: „We want to assure you that our infant cereal products are manufactured to adequately supply nutritional requirements such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and iron“ for early childhood. We never compromise and never compromise on the nutritional quality of our products. We constantly leverage our extensive global research and development network to enhance the nutritional profile of our products. ”
The report alleges that Nestlé adds about 2.2 grams of added sugar per serving to India's popular baby food Cerelac, but a spokesperson said, „Reducing added sugar is an important step for Nestlé India. It's a priority.“ Over the past five years, we have already reduced added sugar by up to 30%, depending on the variety. We regularly review our portfolio and continue to innovate and reformulate our products to further reduce added sugar levels without compromising nutrition, quality, safety or taste. ”
The report said Nestlé's Cerelac in India contains sugar, but the same product is manufactured and sold without added sugar in countries such as the UK and Germany. For example, in Thailand, celeriac contains 6 grams of sugar per serving, which is almost 2.5 times more than sugar in India. In Pakistan, added sugar is 2.7 grams per serving, nearly 40% more than in India.
A Nestlé India spokesperson further said, “Compliance is a key feature of Nestlé India and we never compromise on it. Established committees) and ensure full and strict compliance with local specifications for all nutrient requirements, including added sugars (as appropriate),” it added. We are committed to providing the best nutrition to our consumers, and have been for over 100 years, and will always maintain the highest standards of nutrition, quality and safety in our products. ”