Food giant Nestle India is once again in the spotlight due to its widely-sold baby food product, Cerelac. Global civil society organizations, Public Eye and IBFAN, have submitted a formal request to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), urging legal action against Nestle for “unethical and unfair business practices” in low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction

Nestle India’s Cerelac, a popular baby food brand, has come under scrutiny for alleged unethical practices. The NGOs accuse Nestle of having double standards, particularly related to added sugar content in its products. This issue has implications not only for children’s health but also for Nestle’s reputation in its home country.

Reasons

• Unethical Practices: The NGOs highlight Nestle’s misleading and aggressive marketing tactics, as well as its failure to adhere to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines regarding added sugar content. Cerelac, along with another Nestle brand called Nido, dominates the baby food market in low- and middle-income countries, with global sales exceeding $2.5 billion in 2022.
• NGOs’ Demand: Public Eye and IBFAN demand legal action against Nestle, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable populations from harmful practices. They argue that Nestle’s actions not only harm consumers but also tarnish Switzerland’s reputation.
• Nestle’s Response: Nestle India maintains its commitment to compliance and claims to have reduced sugar content by up to 30% in its baby food products over the past five years. The company asserts that Cerelac complies with local food norms and adheres to Indian food regulator guidelines.

Conclusion

The Cerelac controversy underscores the importance of holding corporations accountable for their practices, especially when it comes to products affecting children’s health. As the Swiss government evaluates the NGOs’ request, the outcome will have implications beyond Nestle’s business operations. Food giant Nestle India faces renewed scrutiny over its popular baby food product, Cerelac. Global civil society organizations, Public Eye and IBFAN, have formally requested the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to take legal action against Nestle for alleged “unethical and unfair business practices” in low- and middle-income countries. Cerelac, along with another Nestle brand called Nido, dominates the baby food market globally, with sales exceeding $2.5 billion in 2022. The NGOs accuse Nestle of misleading marketing tactics and failure to adhere to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines regarding added sugar content. As Switzerland evaluates this request, the outcome will have implications beyond Nestle’s business operations.