Nestle India’s CEO Dismisses Allegations of Racial Stereotyping in Infant Food Formulation

Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India, responded to allegations regarding the company’s infant food formulation, stating that it is done on a global basis and not racially stereotyped as claimed. He emphasized that the sugar content in infant foods is determined by nutritional requirements for specific age groups.

Narayanan clarified that the sugar content in Nestle India’s Cerelac is well below the upper limit prescribed by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), with a majority of sugars being natural. He highlighted that Nestle’s sugar content of 7.1 grams per 100 grams is significantly lower than the permissible limit of 13.6 grams set by FSSAI.

Addressing accusations of selling products with higher sugar content in less developed countries, Narayanan explained that Nestle’s formulations are globally standardized for energy-dense products required by growing children. He stressed that there is no distinction between children in different regions, and formulations are adjusted locally based on regulatory requirements and raw material availability.

Narayanan emphasized that both added-sugar and no-added-sugar products are available in Europe and Asia, refuting claims of racial stereotyping. He urged trust in local regulators, emphasizing that Nestle’s formulations comply with regulatory standards.

While acknowledging differences in nutritional profiles and ingredients, Narayanan reassured that Nestle’s formulations meet local needs while adhering to regulatory guidelines.

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