Company reassures infant formula safety in Nigeria, but civil society groups accuse Nestlé of double standards as sugar‑laden baby cereals flood African markets.
Lagos: Nestlé Nigeria Plc has sought to reassure consumers that its locally sold infant formula is safe, distancing itself from a precautionary recall of specific batches in foreign markets.
Corporate Affairs Manager Toju Egbebi said all SMA and NAN product ranges distributed in Nigeria are registered with NAFDAC and comply with international food safety standards.
“The safety and quality of our products, and the health of babies, remain our top priorities,” she stressed.
Yet the clarification comes amid mounting criticism.
Civil society groups across Africa accuse Nestlé of double standards, alleging that the company markets baby cereals in African countries with sugar levels far higher than those permitted in Europe.
TheDiggerNews reported on November 19, 2025, that 19 organisations from 13 countries — including Nigeria, Morocco, and South Africa — signed an open letter demanding accountability.
Partnering with the International Babyfood Action Network (IBFAN), they warned that sugar‑laden infant foods pose long‑term health risks and exploit weak regulatory environments.
The controversy highlights a broader debate: while Nestlé insists its infant formula in Nigeria is safe, critics argue that the company’s wider product portfolio raises questions about corporate responsibility, consumer protection, and the strength of regulatory oversight in African markets.
