The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has clarified that there is no new regulation requiring zero added sugar in infant foods. The authority responded to queries regarding media reports that a committee had been formed to assess the allowance of added sugar in infant food products. FSSAI cited the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations of 2020, which set standards for various infant food categories.
Existing Regulations on Sugars
According to FSSAI, the 2020 regulations specify that lactose and glucose polymers are the preferred carbohydrates for infant nutrition. Sucrose and fructose shall not be added unless needed as a carbohydrate source, and their sum must not exceed 20 percent of total carbohydrate. These limits align with global standards from Codex, the EU, and the WHO.
Background of the Controversy
In April 2024, Public Eye and IBFAN exposed double standards in infant food products, revealing added sugar in products sold in poorer countries, including India, while Nestle's European products had none. Their report noted that all Cerelac baby cereals in India contained added sugar, averaging nearly 3 grams per serving. The WHO warns that early exposure to sugar can create a lifelong preference for sugary products, increasing obesity and chronic disease risks.
Parliamentary Inquiry
In December 2024, a parliamentary question addressed added sugar in infant foods and government measures to regulate it. Union Health Minister JP Nadda stated that FSSAI scrutiny found Nestle's products compliant with the 2020 regulations. Despite media claims of a new zero-added-sugar standard for infants aged 6-24 months, FSSAI confirmed that the existing regulation remains unchanged.
Industry Response
In October 2024, following public outrage, Nestle launched a new baby food range with no refined sugar, announcing that 14 of 21 Cerelac variants in India would be free of refined sugar. Nestle claimed this initiative began three years before the controversy and that it had reduced added sugars by 30%. The company states full compliance with local regulations, which currently do not mandate zero added sugar, allowing continued sale of such products in India.
