Consumer groups, health experts and policymakers in Nigeria are pushing for strict zero-added-sugar standards in infant foods, warning that current regulations are outdated and may be putting babies at risk of long-term health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
- +Stakeholders push zero-sugar infant food rules over health risks in Nigeria
The call was made at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja organised by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) in partnership with Public Eye, where new research showing high levels of added sugar in widely consumed baby foods raised fresh concerns about product safety and regulatory gaps.
The call was made at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja organised by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) in partnership with Public Eye, where new research showing high levels of added sugar in widely consumed baby foods raised fresh concerns about product safety and regulatory gaps.
Findings presented at the meeting showed that laboratory tests on nearly 100 samples of a popular infant cereal brand sold across more than 20 African countries revealed that 94 percent contained added sugar. On average, the products had about six grams of added sugar per serving, roughly one and a half sugar cubes, while samples from Nigeria recorded about five grams, with some reaching over six grams.
The figures relate strictly to sugar added during manufacturing and do not include naturally occurring sugars in ingredients such as grains, fruits and milk.
Manufacturers have maintained that their products comply with existing national regulations and are fortified to address nutritional deficiencies. However, stakeholders questioned why sugar-free versions of similar products are available in Europe while variants sold in African markets contain added sugar.
Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, CADEF executive director, said the advocacy is not targeted at any single company but focused on protecting children’s health and promoting improved standards.
“African babies are being fed sugar Europe would never accept,” she said, noting disparities in product formulations across regions.
She explained that while some infant cereals contain up to five grams of added sugar per serving, manufacturers are not violating any laws because they operate within current standards based on outdated global guidelines.
CADEF warned that early exposure to added sugars can shape children’s taste preferences and increase their risk of obesity, diabetes, dental disease and other non-communicable conditions later in life, echoing recommendations by the World Health Organization against added sugars in infant foods.
The organisation argued that Nigeria’s current standards, largely aligned with older Codex frameworks, are no longer sufficient to safeguard infant nutrition.
Stakeholders called on key regulators, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to review existing policies and introduce clearer labelling requirements to help parents make informed decisions.
Among the proposals is mandatory front-of-pack labelling that clearly distinguishes added sugars from naturally occurring sugars, alongside policies to encourage manufacturers to reformulate products toward zero added sugar.
Also speaking, Adeyemo Adebayo of the Nutrition Division at the Federal Ministry of Health said regulatory reforms must be supported by sustained public awareness campaigns, including grassroots engagement to educate families that infants do not need added sugar.
Jubril Mohammed, a representative of SON, noted that standard-setting is a consensus-driven process and that proposals such as eliminating added sugar would require evidence-based agreement among stakeholders, a process that could take up to a year.
From a clinical perspective, Anthony Bawa, representing the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), stressed the need for collaboration among health experts, academia and lawmakers, including the National Assembly, to develop stronger legal protections for children.
The meeting also pointed to international examples where sustained advocacy has led to the introduction of no-added-sugar variants of infant foods, showing that reform is achievable.
As interim advice, advocates urged parents to limit processed foods and avoid sugary drinks and sweets for young children, recommending natural options such as fruits instead.
Stakeholders said they would continue engaging policymakers and lawmakers to push for stricter regulations, noting that a combination of regulatory reform, industry accountability and consumer education will be key to protecting infant health in Nigeria.
