Hidden Sugars in Baby Food Across Asia Raise Health Concerns

Jennylyn M. Barrios, a busy make-up artist in Manila, often finds herself balancing work and motherhood, leaving little time to prepare homemade meals for her 10-month-old son, Uno. As a result, she relies on convenient baby food options, such as Cerelac, to feed her growing baby. "If I need to make something from scratch, I need to work double time before I finish the product," Jennylyn explains. "But for Cerelac, I just add hot water and prepare the mix. It’s easy, available, and affordable — perfect for working mums like me."

Jennylyn is not alone in her reliance on pre-packaged baby food. In the Philippines and across Southeast Asia, the demand for instant cereals, porridges, pureed foods, pouches, and snacks has surged, with sales doubling in the last five years. Cerelac, an instant porridge mix from Nestlé, is a top seller in the region, offering both convenience and affordability, especially in the face of rising living costs.

On social media, many parents share photos of their smiling infants enjoying Cerelac, praising the product for providing essential nutrients. However, some of these products may contain more than just the advertised benefits. Certain flavors of Cerelac sold in Southeast Asia, unlike those in other countries like the UK, include added sugars, raising concerns among health professionals. As more parents turn to convenient foods over traditional diets, experts worry about the potential long-term health effects of these hidden sugars on infants in the region