Two six-month-old babies – one in London, the other in Delhi – are both fed Nestlé Cerelac. The same brand, the same cheerful yellow packaging, and the same promise of nutrition.

But the baby in Delhi gets nearly three grams of added sugar per serving, according to an investigation by the Swiss non-profit Public Eye, while the baby in London gets none.

The investigation, released in 2024, sparked global controversy. It found that baby food products sold by Nestlé in Asian and African markets had higher sugar levels compared to their European counterparts. Global health bodies have cautioned against added sugars for infants and children.

The multinational company denied the finding, claiming it had “a consistent approach to nutrition for all babies everywhere”. In India, Nestlé underscored the fact that it was “fully compliant” with Indian laws – a position the company reiterated in its response to Scroll’s questions in May.

Its spokesperson said that Cerelac “is in full and strict compliance with local regulations and standards” under both the Food Safety and Standards Authority, as well as the Bureau of Indian Standards, and that this extends to “the requirements of all nutrients including added sugars”. This was echoed by India’s health ministry in parliament: it said the product “was found to be in compliance with the...

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