Nestlé ‘taking advantage of the poor’ with high sugar baby food

Clarence Ford speaks to Eunice Montsho, Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) Food Justice expert. 

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

Nestlé has been adding excess sugar to baby food in low- and middle-income countries, despite the health consequences this has for the children.

“It is a common practice of Nestlé to take advantage of the poor, low- and middle- income countries in Africa.”

- Eunice Montsho, Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) Food Justice expert

Studies suggest children should not have sugar before the age of two as this can lead to developing a sweet tooth and make them less willing to eat foods that aren’t sweet.

This means that there is a profit motive for Nestlé’s sugary cereals as children will crave it over healthy alternatives and parents will buy more of it.

“When you give children a lot of sugar, they have a suppressed appetite for nutritious food.”

- Eunice Montsho, Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) Food Justice expert

This contributes to the obesity problem that is rampant in many African countries, including South Africa.

The similar equivalent to these sugary products in Switzerland, Nestlé’s home country, is sugar free.

HEALA says these high sugar, fat, and salt foods should have a clear warning label on the front of the package.

Montsho says that sugary foods should not be marketed towards children.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.