Overview 

On Monday, Nestlé India unveiled its new Ceregrow variant, which contains no refined sugar. This launch is part of the company’s broader plan to reduce and eventually eliminate sucrose from all products intended for children. The introduction of this sugar-free variant follows Nestlé’s announcement last year of several no-refined-sugar options in its Cerelac range.

Commitment to Innovation and Quality

Vineet Singh, Head of Nestlé Nutrition India, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to quality and innovation. He stated, “At Nestlé India, our commitment lies in consistently leveraging our research and development to foster innovation and produce quality products that are dependable.” He added that the launch of Ceregrow marks further progress in Nestlé’s effort to reduce and completely remove sucrose from all baby and toddler products.

Double Standards Allegations from Public Eye and IBFAN

Last year, Swiss investigative group Public Eye and IBFAN accused Nestlé of “double standards,” alleging that its popular baby food products, like Cerelac, sold in low- and middle-income countries such as India contained “added sugar.” In contrast, the same products were marketed as “without added sugar” in more advanced markets, sparking a wave of criticism.

Government Clears Nestlé of Sugar Violations

Despite the accusations, Union Health Minister J P Nadda reassured the Lok Sabha in December that the government found no violations of sugar regulations with Nestlé India’s Cerelac. In a written response, Nadda confirmed that Nestlé India complies with the added sugar guidelines outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. At the time, Nestlé emphasized that the sugar content in its Cerelac range remained below the limits set by the FSSAI and reiterated its ongoing commitment to reducing added sugar in its products.

Source: Businessline