Early childhood lays the foundation for future health, growth and overall well-being. Supporting the right nutritional start to life is fundamental to who we are and how we operate, and we are committed to providing parents and caregivers with a choice of high-quality products and clear, transparent labelling on pack.
Does Nestlé have double standards when it comes to nutrition in its baby foods in different parts of the world?
No. Nestlé has a consistent approach to nutrition for all babies everywhere and maintains high standards in every country where we offer early childhood foods. We don’t have double standards.
What zero-added sugar recipes do you offer?
We already offer recipes with no-added sugar in many parts of the world, including in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, Africa and Europe. We continue to actively work toward expanding these offerings across all markets where our products are sold. For example, since 2024, we have brought to market no-added sugar infant cereals in India, the Middle East, East and Southern Africa, and Pakistan, where previously these options were not available.
We continue to offer more of these variants in more and more markets, but this change takes time. First we must adapt the machinery we use in our factories around the world, perfect the manufacturing process, carry out consumer trials and register new recipes with local authorities. We also need to make sure that we bring parents and caregivers with us on this journey, so they accept the new products.
What timeframe do you have for the reduction of added sugars in your infant foods?
We know that parents and caregivers are increasingly concerned about sugar in early childhood foods. We have heard these concerns and have taken them on board. It is why, for several years now, we have been working to reduce levels of added sugar in our early childhood foods.
Our growing-up milks for young children aged between 1 and 3 years do not contain added sugar. We started phasing out refined sugar from these products several years ago and completed this process at the end of 2024. For infant cereals, we already offer recipes with no-added sugar in many parts of the world and continue to actively work toward expanding these offerings across all markets where our products are sold.
Do Nestlé infant formula products contain added sugars?
None of our infant formula products for babies under the age of 12 months contain added sugars. Nor do our growing up milks (GUMs) for children aged between 1 and 3 years contain any refined sugar. We started phasing out refined sugar from these products several years ago and completed this process at the end of 2024.
What about your infant cereal products? Do they contain added sugars?
We have been working for some time to reduce added sugar in our infant cereals. We are also committed to ensuring that consumers have a choice, wherever they buy our products. This is why we are expanding our no-added sugar options, and will continue to offer more of these variants in more and more markets. Further investments in education will help to drive visibility and acceptance of these products among parents and caregivers.
What sugars do you have in your infant cereals?
There are various types of sugar, and those present in our cereals come from different sources, depending on the recipe involved:
- In a recipe containing milk, for example, up to 60% of the total sugars can come from lactose which is naturally present in milk.
- Some sugars, naturally present in cereals, can also be released during manufacturing.
- Limited sugars can come from ingredients we add, such as fruit purée, pieces of fruit, sucrose, or honey, which are used to bring additional flavor and texture.
These factors apply across the entire industry.
The total level of sugars in our products, including those generated during the manufacturing process and those that are added, are always in line with local regulations and/or international standards as applicable.
Which guidelines and requirements do you follow?
Everywhere we operate, our products comply with all applicable local and/or international regulations. Our nutritional criteria are based on the latest scientific guidelines and dietary recommendations.
For infant cereals specifically, our internal criteria for added sugars are below the limits set by the Codex Alimentarius (a Food Standards Commission established by the WHO and FAO) used as a reference globally.
Our milk and cereals for young children are age-adapted and fortified with vitamins and minerals such as iron to help close nutrient gaps.
What is Nestle's response to BBC's report about added sugar in infant foods in the Philippines?
Our infant foods are developed using the latest scientific research to ensure they meet key nutritional needs, helping to support healthy growth and development in those all-important early years.
We recognize concerns around added sugars and have been working to reduce levels in our early childhood foods for a number of years. We continue to accelerate these efforts, going beyond international standards in this area, upholding local regulations, and providing caregivers with more no-added sugar options across all markets where our products are sold.
In the Philippines, where 43 per cent of babies aged 6-12 months suffer from iron deficiency anemia, fortified cereal such as ours can help tackle this condition, which affects cognitive and physical development.
We are clear on our commitment: to deliver nutritious products that support children’s growth and developmental needs, while ensuring parents have the choice of products with and without added sugar wherever they buy our infant cereals. We are also committed to supporting efforts that help parents get accustomed to these new recipes.
