Nestlé Nigeria has strongly rejected claims that its Cerelac infant cereals sold across African markets contain higher levels of added sugar compared to versions of the product available in Europe, describing the allegations as misleading” and scientifically inaccurate.
The company’s response follows a recent investigation by Public Eye, which suggested that Cerelac products marketed in Africa are formulated with significantly more added sugar than those sold in Western markets.
In a detailed reaction to the inquiry, Nestlé said it disagrees with the conclusions of the Public Eye report and insists that its product formulations in Africa, including Nigeria, do not contain elevated levels of added sugars.
According to the company, the investigation wrongly categorises naturally occurring sugars found in cereals, fruits, and milk as refined sugars added during manufacturing, a characterisation Nestlé says distorts the nutritional composition of its infant cereals.
“We disagree with the Public Eye report. Our infant cereals products sold in Africa do not contain higher levels of added sugars. It is misleading and scientifically inaccurate to refer to the sugars coming from cereals and naturally present in fruits as refined sugars added to the products,” the company stated.
Nestlé added that, when such naturally occurring sugars are excluded, its Cerelac infant cereals do not contain the high levels of added refined sugars claimed by the investigators. The company also disclosed that it has requested additional details from Public Eye regarding the methodology and analysis that informed the report, noting that this information has not yet been provided.
The food manufacturer emphasised that all types of added sugars in its infant cereals remain well below limits set by Codex Alimentarius, the global food standards body jointly managed by the FAO and WHO. “We apply our threshold everywhere, including in Nigeria. We do not have double standards when it comes to early childhood nutrition,” the company said.
On concerns about formulation differences across regions, Nestlé explained that product recipes for Nigeria are determined through a combination of local regulatory requirements, ingredient availability, and the nutritional needs of children in the region. The company also reaffirmed that its Cerelac products fully comply with Nigerian food safety and labelling rules.
Addressing questions on label transparency, Nestlé said it maintains full disclosure of sugar content on infant cereal packaging in Nigeria. “We are fully transparent about the composition of our products and do not mislead consumers. In Nigeria, sugar is declared as an ingredient on our product labels and is included in the total amount of carbohydrates,” the company noted.
Nestlé also countered concerns regarding WHO recommendations on avoiding added sugars for children under two. It pointed out that the cited document in the Public Eye report is a WHO Europe model, not a global guideline, and has not been adopted into EU legislation. The company stressed that it adheres to Codex standards and its own stricter internal thresholds while working to reduce sugar levels across its portfolio.
Nestlé disclosed that no-refined-sugar variants of Cerelac are already available in Ghana and are undergoing regulatory approval in Nigeria. The company said it remains committed to ensuring parents have accurate nutritional information and guidance when choosing foods for their children.