National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has said Nestle, the largest consumer goods firm in the world, does not sell Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand for use with infants one year of age and older, in Nigeria.
Recall that a report was widely disseminated through social media to the general public claiming that Nestle adds sugar and honey to baby formula and cereal goods sold in many developing nations in violation of global recommendations meant to avoid obesity and chronic illnesses.
The report says that samples of baby food products sold in Latin America, Africa, and Asia were tested. The results of the analysis and product packaging inspection showed that samples of Nido and Cerelac, a cereal intended for children between the ages of six months and two years, had added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey.
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However, NAFDAC stated in response to the reports that Nido is not in circulation in Nigeria, is not known to the Agency, and is not registered in Nigeria.
In a press release provided to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the Agency revealed that the assortment of Nestle Cerelac baby cereals supplied in Nigeria is correctly registered with NAFDAC, adhering to the Nigerian Industrial Standard for Foods for Infants and Young Children – Processed Cereal Based foods (NIS 256:2010), the Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CXS 74-1981, which was adopted in 1981, revised in 2006, amended in 2017, 2019, and 2023), and the relevant NAFDAC regulations concerning product safety, quality, and labelling requirements.
According to NAFDAC, the regulations indicated that processed cereal-based foods meant for infants to be fed as supplemental food starting at six months of age are included in their scope.
The Agency stated that sucrose, fructose, glucose, glucose syrup, or honey may be added to products made from cereals that are or must be prepared for consumption with milk or other suitable nutritious liquids as long as the amount of added carbohydrates from these sources does not exceed the specified levels of 1.8 g/100 kJ (7.5 g/100 kcal); moreover, the maximum level of added fructose shall not exceed 0.9 g/100 kJ (3.75 g/100 kcal).
“Significantly, for processed foods based on cereal for infants and young children, these national and international food standards permit the addition of sucrose, fructose, glucose, glucose syrup, or honey to cereal-based products that are or must be prepared for consumption with milk or other appropriate nutritious liquids, provided that the total amount of added carbohydrates from these sources does not exceed the designated levels of 1.8 g/100 kJ (7.5 g/100 kcal); specifically, the maximum amount of added fructose must not exceed 0.9g/100 kJ (3.75g/100 kcal). When high-protein foods are added to cereals, carbohydrates (sucrose, fructose, glucose, glucose syrup, or honey) are added as long as the food is ready to eat with water or another appropriate protein-free beverage.
“The fact that carbohydrates are composed of sugar building blocks and can be categorized based on the number of sugar units that make up a molecule should not be overlooked. Examples of single-unit sugars, or monosaccharides, are glucose, fructose, and galactose. ” it was disclosed.
It further clarified that disaccharides, or double-unit sugars, are most often recognized as lactose (milk sugar) and sucrose (table sugar).
Given the vulnerability of the target population, NAFDAC emphasized that foods for infants and young children are strictly regulated.
The statement also added that the organization has put in place measures to monitor and enforce adherence to both the national regulations, Marketing of Infant and Young Children’s Food and other Designated Products (Registration, Sales, etc.) Regulations, and the international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes.
“By using this platform, the Management of NAFDAC seeks to reassure the public that food for infants and young children that is distributed and used in Nigeria in compliance with applicable Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) and Codex Alimentarius international food standards (Codex) is registered with the Agency. This includes all food types supplied by Nigerian producers, importers, and marketers for newborns and young children,” the statement said.
The Agency equally claimed that “the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) implements the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, developing international food standards, guidelines, and best practices for nutrition during infancy and early childhood, and that this is necessary to ensure children’s growth, health, and development to their full potential.”
Therefore, the NAFDAC management gave the public comfort, saying that the Agency is fully aware of its obligations to guarantee the safety, wholesomeness, and quality of baby and young child food offered for sale in Nigeria by the applicable norms and laws.
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