If It is Unsafe for Babies in the West then Why Is It Breakfast in India

Big food brands are removing dyes and sugar for US kids—yet still feeding Indian babies sugar-laden, low-quality food. Why the double standard? Here's the truth.

If It’s Unsafe for Babies in the West, Why Is It Breakfast Here? The Bitter Truth About Double Standards in Global Food

Last week, the world watched as food giants like Nestlé, Kraft Heinz, and General Mills pledged to eliminate artificial dyes and harmful additives from their products in the United States. American school lunches are set to get cleaner, and shelves will soon carry reformulated snacks with less sugar and no synthetic colors.

It’s a victory for American children.

But what about our children?

Thousands of miles away in India—and in much of Asia, Africa, and Latin America—the very same companies continue to sell lower-quality, sugar-laden, and artificially colored versions of their products. Many of these foods are targeted at the most vulnerable: babies and young children.

This isn’t just a minor oversight. It’s a moral failure and a public health crisis in the making.

Two Standards, One Brand: What's Really Going On?

Take Nestlé, for instance. In Europe, their Cerelac baby cereal contains no added sugar. But in India? The very same brand contains added sugar and even honey, ingredients most pediatricians recommend avoiding during early childhood due to the risks of obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.

A report from Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) revealed that 100% of Nestlé's Cerelac products sold in India and Africa contain added sugars—compared to 0% in Germany and the UK.

Why the stark difference?

It boils down to regulations and corporate ethics. Western markets have stricter food labeling laws and more informed consumers. In India, regulations lag behind, and awareness among parents is still growing. These companies know it—and they’re taking advantage of the gap.

The Real Cost: A Generation at Risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm: childhood obesity is rising fastest in low- and middle-income countries.

In India, urban childhood obesity rates have surged to 14-20%, a staggering figure given the historical undernutrition issues. Add to that the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes among children—once unheard of—and we begin to see the devastating cost of feeding our kids ultra-processed, sugar-heavy products.

And this isn’t a coincidence.

It’s a direct result of food corporations treating Indian children as second-tier consumers.

What’s Changing in the West—And Why India Deserves the Same

In the U.S., public pressure and advocacy have led to major changes. Over 66% of Americans support removing harmful ingredients like artificial dyes and excess sugar from processed foods. Food companies, facing lawsuits, stricter FDA policies, and consumer backlash, are cleaning up their act.

California has even moved to ban red dye No. 3, an additive linked to cancer in animal studies.

But here in India, there’s no such movement—yet.

Shouldn’t Indian children be just as protected?

Voices Rising: A Movement from Within

Entrepreneurs like Pallavi Utagi, CEO of Artinci, are pushing back. Her Bengaluru-based company makes sweets and snacks with zero added sugar, combining joy with health.

“Healthy food shouldn’t be a luxury of the West. If dyes are bad for kids in California, they’re bad for kids in Kolkata too,” she rightly says.

Artinci represents a new wave of Indian food startups that are questioning the status quo and demanding better—for everyone.

What Needs to Happen Now

This isn’t just about shaming big brands—it’s about accountability and equity.

We need:

• Stricter food regulations in India, especially for baby and toddler foods.
• Transparent labeling that includes sugar, salt, and additive content in plain language.
• Public awareness campaigns to educate parents about the hidden risks in common packaged foods.
• A unified call to action: If companies can make safer food for the West, they can—and must—do it for India too.

Final Thoughts: Our Kids Deserve Better

Food reform shouldn’t have borders. Every child—regardless of where they’re born—deserves access to safe, nutritious, and clean food.

It’s time Indian parents, policymakers, and businesses demand the same standard of care that kids in Zurich or Boston enjoy.

Because a baby's health should never be a matter of geography.

Sources & References

• Public Eye & IBFAN Report on Nestlé (2023): publiceye.ch
• World Health Organization (WHO): Childhood Obesity Facts
• Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI): Artificial Food Dyes & Child Behavior