PETALING JAYA: Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd has affirmed that its infant formula and baby food products adhere to stringent international and Malaysian regulatory standards, including specific labelling requirements.
According to the company’s spokesman, both Nestlé and Wyeth infant formulas exclusively use lactose as the primary source of carbohydrates.
It also said this practice aligns with the nutritional guidelines recommended by various health authorities.
“Similarly, Nestlé infant cereals comply with both international standards and Malaysian food regulations, strictly following the threshold limits for carbohydrates and added sugars.
“Everywhere our products are sold, their nutritional profile complies with all applicable local regulations,” it said in a statement to FMT.
It also said slight variations in recipes across countries depend on several factors, including adherence to domestic regulations and the availability of local ingredients.
Earlier today, New Straits Times reported that an investigation by Swiss organisation Public Eye, in collaboration with the International Baby Food Action Network, reviewed about 150 products from leading brands, including Cerelac.
It is understood that Cerelac and Nido are some of Nestlé’s best-selling baby-food brands in low- and middle-income countries. Public Eye said that Nestle controls 20% of the baby food market with an estimated value of US$70 billion.
The findings revealed that nearly all Cerelac infant cereals tested contained added sugar, averaging almost 4gm per serving, equivalent to about one sugar cube, despite being marketed for babies from six months of age.
According to Public Eye, Nestle “aggressively advertises” these products as “essential to children’s healthy development” in Africa, Asia and Latin America. - FMT
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