Nestle’s baby products in compliance with regulations: Health Minister

Taking cognisance of the report released by Swiss NGO Public Eye which raised concerns regarding levels of “added sugar” in Nestle’s baby food brand Cerelac in India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) tested baby food products in India and found them to be in compliance with India’s infant nutrition regulations.

Added sugar per serving was found to be in compliance with the provisions of infant food regulations in baby products of Nestle, Union Health Minister J P Nadda told Lok Sabha on Friday.

“Based on scrutiny of the product, added sugar per serving was found to be in compliance with the provisions under Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020,” he stated while responding to a written question.

Nadda said that the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations 2020 prescribes the standards for different categories of infant food and formulae.

“The limits specified for sugars in infant food products in the Regulations is at par with the global standards, namely Codex Alimentarius Commission, which takes into account the recommendation of World Health Organization (WHO) while setting food standards,” he added.

He further said that on the basis of media report, suo moto cognisance was taken by the FSSAI about a report by the Swiss NGO regarding added sugar in wheat-based baby product. Inspections were conducted on April 29 and 30 at manufacturing sites engaged in production of the infant food product in the country, he said adding that the products were found to be in compliance with the regulations.