Experts say there can be long-term health consequences for babies and infants who consume too much sugar at a young age.

Experts say there can be long-term health consequences for babies and infants who consume too much sugar at a young age.

In Switzerland, the label of Nestlé’s Cerelac baby cereal says it contains “no added sugar.” But in Senegal and South Africa, the same product has 6 grams of added sugar per serving, according to a recent Public Eye investigation. And in the Philippines, one serving of a version of the Cerelac cereal for babies 1 to 6 months old contains a whopping 7.3 grams of added sugar, the equivalent of almost two teaspoons.

This “double standard” for how Nestlé creates and markets its popular baby food brands around the world was alleged in a report from Public Eye, an independent nonpartisan Swiss-based investigative organization, and International Baby Food Action Network.

The groups allege that Nestlé adds sugars and honey to some of its baby cereal and formula in lower-income countries, while products sold in Europe and other countries are advertised with “no added sugars.” The disparities uncovered in the report, which was published in the BMJ in April, has raised alarms among global health experts.

  • bolexforsoup@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    There are plenty of companies that make great alternatives to each of those products! I used to be somebody who had a hard time replacing very specific products, but you’d be surprised how quickly your taste changes.

    For instance, I love creamy Jif peanut butter. And most people who love peanut butter will tell you that it’s hard to eat other kinds than the one they like. “Real” PB and organic stuff? No thanks. Then I discovered a cinnamon almond butter I looooooove. I’m sure it has more sugar than it probably needs, but as somebody who never would eat any other kind of peanut butter like spread… I was surprised how much I came to enjoy that stuff.