🔅 A Baby Food Scandal
Nestlé's Double Standards, Africa's Musical Triumph, and Tanzania's Flood Woes
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Sugar, Spice, and Everything Not So Nice: Nestlé's Double Standards in Baby Food
Nestlé, the world's largest consumer goods company, has been caught red-handed adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in poorer countries.
Campaigners from Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, sent samples of Nestlé's baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing. The results revealed that added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey was found in samples of Nido, a follow-up milk formula for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years.
Here's where it gets really bad:
In Nestlé's main European markets, including the UK, formulas for young children contain no added sugar. While some cereals aimed at older toddlers contain added sugar, there's none in products targeted at babies between six months and one year.
Obesity is increasingly a problem in low- and middle-income countries, with the number of overweight children under five in Africa increasing by nearly 23% since 2000.
WHO guidelines for the European region say no added sugars or sweetening agents should be permitted in any food for children under three. While no guidance has been specifically produced for other regions, researchers say the European document remains equally relevant to other parts of the world.
The health of children should be a universal concern, regardless of where they live.
African Music Takes the World by Storm, One Streaming Revenue at a Time
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), sub-Saharan Africa had the fastest music growth worldwide, with revenues climbing by 24.7 per cent last year.
Put otherwise, Africa is the only region to surpass 20 per cent growth.
The IFPI "Global Music Report 2024" attributes Africa's success to its rich blend of genres and cultures. From Amapiano taking the global stage by storm (South Africa, the largest market in the region, contributed a mind-boggling 77 per cent of regional revenues) to other artists and genres waiting in the wings, African music is a force to be reckoned with.
Christel Kayibi, director of repertoire strategy at Sony Music Africa, emphasizes the importance of artist development and building sustainable careers both in Africa and overseas. It's not just about chasing the next big hit; it's about nurturing talent and creating lasting success.
Togo's Game of Thrones: Opposition Cries Foul Over Proposed Constitution
The opposition in Togo is accusing President Faure Gnassingbé of using a proposed new constitution as a power grab to extend his family's 57-year reign.
The reforms, which would see the West African country shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system, are being touted by the president's supporters as a way to reduce the head of state's powers and "improve democracy in the country." But the opposition isn't buying it.
They say the changes are nothing more than a ruse to keep Mr Gnassingbé, who is already in his fourth term, in power until 2031.
After that, he would be appointed to the new position of "president of the council of ministers" (a.k.a. prime minister), effectively continuing his family's iron grip on the country.
For those keeping score at home, President Gnassingbé came to power in 2005 after the death of his father, who had been president since 1967. That's a long time to be in charge, even by Game of Thrones standards.
The constitutional changes were approved by lawmakers last month, but in the face of mounting public anger, Mr Gnassingbé hit the pause button and said the reforms would be subject to further consultations.
Tanzania's Flood Woes
Tanzania is experiencing a deluge of biblical proportions, with floods claiming 58 lives over the last two weeks. The East African country is now looking to major infrastructure projects such as dams as a potential lifeline to keep its citizens high and dry.
The government announced the grim death toll as heavy rains continued to batter the nation. April marks the peak of Tanzania's rainy season. To make matters worse, the El Nino phenomenon has decided to join the party this year, causing droughts and floods across the globe.
Overall, the flooding has affected 126,831 people, with more than 75,000 farms damaged in the coastal and Morogoro areas.
But Tanzania isn't the only country in East Africa feeling the wrath of Mother Nature:
Flooding in neighbouring Kenya has reportedly claimed at least 13 lives, with infrastructure damage and warnings for those living in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground.
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group have said that the rainfall in East Africa "was one of the most intense ever recorded" in the region between October and December. They also noted that climate change contributed to the event, making the heavy rainfall up to two times more intense.
Food for Thought
“The child of a rat is a rat."
— Malagasy Proverb