New Delhi:

Nestlé, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, has found itself embroiled in numerous controversies over the years. The company has faced its fair share of scrutiny due to the infamous Maggi noodles ban and child labor allegations.

Added sugar to baby food

A recent report has once again put Nestlé in the spotlight, revealing differences in baby food across Nestlé’s different regions. While products sold in Europe were found to contain no added sugar, products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America did. The finding raises concerns because sugar is generally not recommended for babies due to its potential health risks.

The report was published by Public Eye, a Swiss organization known for its investigative work and public advocacy, in partnership with the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). The findings come from tests conducted on Nestlé products in a Belgian laboratory.

The report, titled “How Nestlé is getting children in low-income countries hooked on sugar,” noted that the brand uses different nutritional standards in its products depending on the country. It also accused the company of not clearly stating the sugar content on packaging.

Maggi banned in India

In 2015, Nestlé’s most popular Maggi noodles were banned in India after tests by India’s food safety regulator found excessive levels of lead and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

The noodles claimed to have “no added MSG”, but test results showed that the MSG and lead content exceeded Nestlé India’s claim by more than 1,000 times.

As a result, several states banned the sale and distribution of Maggi noodles and Nestlé had to temporarily withdraw the product from the market. Later, after thorough testing and discussions with food safety authorities, Nestlé resumed sales in India after declaring Maggi noodles safe for consumption.

Banned in the US and Europe for discouraging breastfeeding

In the 1970s, Nestlé discouraged breastfeeding in favor of infant formula as a better option, although there was no conclusive evidence to support this claim. This sparked a widespread boycott of Nestlé products that eventually spread to Europe. The boycott lasted from 1977 to 1984, when Nestlé agreed to abide by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) international marketing guidelines. This move led to the end of the boycott.

child labor charges

In 2015, a report by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) revealed that children under the age of 15 were still working on Nestlé-related cocoa farms, despite Nestlé’s commitment more than a decade ago to eliminate child labor from its supply chain. The study surveyed 260 farms in Côte d’Ivoire and found that 56 workers were under the age of 18, including 27 under the age of 15. There was evidence of forced labor on one farm, where a young worker was not paid for a year. Children were found working as “domestic workers”, denied access to education, and engaged in strenuous tasks such as wielding machetes and carrying huge loads.

Criticism of unhealthy food

In 2021, Nestlé faced a lot of criticism after internal reports revealed that most of its food and beverages did not meet required health standards. The document showed that 60% of Nestlé’s food and drink portfolio (excluding pet food, infant formula and coffee) did not meet these standards. It is also acknowledged that some products may never meet health standards. In response, Nestlé pledged to address the issue by reviewing all products to comply with better nutritional guidelines. They also mentioned that they have reduced sugar and salt in their products by 14-15% over the past seven years.