LIFE LONG RISKS OF SUGARS IN BABY FOODS AND DOUBLE STANDARDS PROMPT CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND REGULATION
The harm caused by manufacturers of sweet processed baby foods is at last being exposed and prompting calls for transparency and regulation.
Exposure to sugar rationing in the first 1000 days of life protected against chronic disease
Researchers from the University of Southern California have found that cutting sugar in the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life – from conception to the age of two – appears to reduce the risk of developing significant health issues in adult life, with a 30% reduction in the risk of obesity among the sugar-rationed babies. The study took advantage of the “natural experiment” that occurred in the UK as it recovered from World War Two and food-rationing came to an end. (Science . 31 Oct 2024 . Vol 386, Issue 6725)
Sugar in first 1,000 days linked to poor health later
“Cutting sugar in the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life – from conception to the age of two – appears to reduce the risk of developing significant health issues in adult life, say researchers. The team analysed the impact of the end of sugar-rationing in the UK, which led to a rapid doubling in the amount of sugar consumed. Their study showed limiting the intake of sugar in early life cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 35%, and high blood pressure by 20%. Experts believe the first 1,000 days of life are a crucial period which can shape a person’s future health, as well as being responsible for establishing a life-long sweet tooth.” (James Gallagher . BBC . 31 October 2024)
A BBC report and investigation in the Philippines, The Sweet Divide, has prompted calls for regulation in the Philippines. Senator Imee Marcos, the sister of the current president and daughter of former president Ferdinand Marcos Snr, is sponsoring a bill that would prohibit manufacturers of baby food manufacturers from adding sugar to their products. A failure to comply could lead to a hefty fine, and imprisonment of producers and manufacturers for one to five years:
Hidden sugars in Asia’s baby food spark concerns
“Cerelac – an instant porridge mix – is Nestle’s biggest seller here, offering not only convenience but aspiration as well, all for an affordable price, a key consideration with a rise in cost of living. A quick search on social media shows a slew of aspirational mums with their smiling infants extolling its virtues – including offering some of the crucial nutrients growing children need. But while the product will be instantly recognisable to parents across the world, the ingredients here may not be.” (Suranjana Tewari . BBC News . Manila, The Philippines . 31 October 2024)
The Sweet Divide
“As people in south east Asia get richer, new parents are increasingly turning to convenience foods to feed their babies. But many of them contain added sugar. The same products being sold in mostly western markets have no added sugar. In the Philippines, the stakes are high – with obesity and diabetes on the rise. The BBC speaks to the experts sounding the alarm, the social media influencers promoting the foods, the mothers seeking convenience, the government on how it plans to tackle growing health concerns, and asks brands why they’re adding sugar to baby food.” (BBC . 31 October 2024)
Attention: BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. It’s due to rights issues.
How Nestlé gets children hooked on sugar in lower-income countries
Nestlé’s leading baby-food brands, promoted in low- and middle-income countries as healthy and key to supporting young children’s development, contain high levels of added sugar. In Switzerland, where Nestlé is headquartered, such products are sold with no added sugar. These are the main findings of a new investigation by Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), which shed light on Nestlé’s hypocrisy and the deceptive marketing strategies deployed by the Swiss food giant. (Laurent Gaberell, Manuel Abebe, Patti Rundall · Public Eye/IBFAN . April 2024)
The release of the Public Eye/IBFAN exposé, How Nestlé gets children hooked on sugar in lower-income countries, showed how Nestlé markets its baby food products as beneficial for child development, despite containing high levels of added sugar. The report prompted a drop in Nestlé’s share price in India to a 3-year low on 18th May (the day of Nestlé’s Annual General Meeting in Switzerland); enquiries by regulators in India, Nigeria and Bangladesh and a formal request to the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to bring legal action against Nestlé under the unfair competition act for “unethical and unfair business practices” in low and middle-income countries:
Nestle baby-food scandal | Why this health food maker has double standards in low-income countries
“A rather alarming article came up on my LinkedIn feed this week. The article claimed that Nestle adds sugar to the company’s infant milk sold in poor nations, but not in Europe or the UK. According to the article, Nestlé’s Cerelac for six-months-old babies has 6 grams of sugar added per serving in Thailand, 5.2 in Ethiopia, 4 in South Africa, 2.7 in Pakistan and 2.2 in India – compared to 0 in the UK and Germany.” (Sigal Atzmon . CNBC . 29 April 2024)
Nestle India shares drop 5% after report on high sugar content in baby food
“Shares of Nestle India dropped sharply during Thursday’s trading session after a report claimed that the FMCG major’s baby food products sold in India contained high levels of sugar.” (Koustav Das . India Today Business Desk . New Delhi, . 18 Apr 2024)
Sugar in baby food: SECO must bring legal action against Nestlé under Unfair Competition Act
“A joint investigation by Public Eye and IBFAN recently revealed double standards over added sugar in two of Nestlé’s best-selling baby food brands and has triggered international public outcry. In low- and middle-income countries, Cerelac and Nido are promoted as healthy and “key to supporting young children’s development” but the products contain high levels of added sugar, which is prohibited under WHO’s Guidelines. In Switzerland the company sells such products without added sugar. The two NGOs are now calling on the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to lodge a federal complaint to stop this unethical and unfair business practice – and protect children, but also the reputation of Nestlé’s home country.” (Public Eye . Zurich, Lausanne, 12 June 2024)
With information from Baby Milk Action
