This Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation runs factories in over 80 countries. It has introduced over 2000 products including coffee, bottled water, milkshakes and others like beverages, candies, breakfast cereals, infant foods, performance and healthcare nutrition, seasonings, soups and sauces, frozen and refrigerated foods, ice cream and pet food etc. It even has its own line of pharmaceutical products. It was Henry Nestlé, a Swiss manufacturer who built up this brand.
(Nestlé Headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland)
(Introduction of Nestlé products in markets)
The original Nestlé logo was based on his family's coat of arms, which featured a single bird sitting on a nest. This was a reference to the family name, which means ‘nest’ in German. But he redesigned the logo in which the bird is sitting with two young babies to create a visual link between his name and his company’s infant cereal products. He began using the image as a trademark in 1868.
(Timeline of Nestlé logos)
Many reporters and researchers are claiming that the majority of it's foods are unhealthy. India's food regulator had banned Maggi in 2015 after tests showed it contained excessive lead, due to the presence of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and impermissible levels of lead. The tests revealed that, while the permissible lead content is only 0.01 ppm, Maggi samples contained 17 ppm, but we still see many Indians eating Maggi without thinking about their health.
(Maggi ban in India)
However in 2020, Nestlé company said that Maggi noodles are safe to eat after testing it thoroughly. Nestlé India has run over 3,500 tests (on batches for over 200 million packs) in nationally and internationally accredited laboratories, and all the results were clear. But in the internal document, the company said that 60 percent of its food and drinks portfolio — barring categories such as pet food, baby formula and coffee — do not meet the recognized definition of health . It also acknowledged the fact that some of its food products will “never be healthy”.
(Via Dailymail)
Nestlé isn't the only brand in the world that has some flaws and cons. Many famous brands such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, PowerBar etc. are known for their tasty and indulging products. However, CDC warns that some of them contain ingredients like hydrogenated oils (a source of saturated fat), TBHQ, artificial flavors, artificial dyes, and corn syrup; which are dangerous if taken in more than the recommended amounts.
(PowerBar's 30% ProteinPlus bar)
It remains a controversial topic, and requires us consumers to just be aware of how much we depend on each and every brand for our dietary needs. It is recommended to take care of our consumption habits and not entirely depend on just one brand. We can consume all of these products, but keeping in mind how harmful they are and making certain that we do not consume them in large quantities that can lead to severe side effects.
Authored By: Shreta Das
Edited By: Shreya Gupta