Nestlé, a name often associated with family products, is under scrutiny yet again after a 2015 controversy involving Maggi noodles. This time, it's about their baby food products, particularly Cerelac, which is alleged to have high sugar content that doesn't comply with international health standards. A recent study by the Swiss organization Public Eye has highlighted that Cerelac products in India contain significantly more sugar compared to their counterparts in other countries, which are either sugar-free or have minimal sugar content.
According to the study, every serving of Cerelac in India has up to 3 grams of sugar, a practice that might risk long-term health issues and obesity in children. This revelation has prompted investigations by the Ministry of Health and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Dr. Jugal Kishore, Head of Community Medicine at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, expressed concerns over the implications of such high sugar intake in children, which can lead to insulin resistance and increased glucose production in the body. These conditions are precursors to diabetes and obesity. The full extent of this issue will be clearer once the Ministry of Health and FSSAI conclude their investigations.
