28/11/2025
Dear all,
Readers in my network
Nestlé
Danone
Unilever
World Health Organization (WHO) (as codex alimentarius)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (as codex alimentarius)
African Union
codex alimentarius
I am writing to you – Food company industries - (for the second time, as my previous message was sent and acknowledged by your companies in September), as a mean to raise awareness, bring this open discussion with the public, and ask for accountability for the alleged food products (processed and ultraprocessed foods) your companies have been formulating, producing, distributing in african countries)
And to
Inform the consumers on regards of what it has been consumed locally and as well the strategies used by food industries to mislead, manipulate and disinform consumers, like me, my daughter and family members.
Throughout this year, I have been analyzing food labels of products manufactures for infants, children and adults, of some products that are commonly purchased and eaten by the majority of the population, mainly Mozambicans citizens; given the growing incidence and prevalence of chronic non communicable diseases and deaths.
This is a project of my own, aims at educating more consumers of what is actually written on food labels (translation in “lay terms”), and its implications for health in general, taking into consideration claims and allegations in food labels as well as, world known dietary refence values (or RDAs or RDIs).
Furthermore, during this analysis, I came across some disturbing findings:
1. Labels are incorrect, when it comes to total caloric values, fats and sugars per portion in a considerable sample of your products (that are either available online or physically); as shown in my previous communication to your company.
2. The quality of the so called “food” products commercialized/distributed/consumed/used in African countries are substantially artificially formulated, meanwhile the same product by the same manufacturer has in its composition natural ingredients; and have “natural” allegations on your packages.
As such, given the existence of tremendous amount of public information on these food products in your companies’ websites – for African, America, European and Asian countries (all websites consulted for comparison purposes)
I´ve concluded, that there is evident manipulation of African´s citizens health, through food products, given that the formulations produced, distributed and consumed in African countries are based on non-natural ingredients, with labels misleading consumers (portion vs actual portion).
Furthermore, food products made for infants and kids, as alleged in food labels, are not suitable for children, given the high content of sugars, fats and food additives (non-natural, often times).
I am writing to you, with a few concerns as a consumer, mom, nutritionist and public health professional:
I. !. why African products does not have natural based products, like the European products, in their composition? Do consumers need to write the company to ask?
II. How can a product with different composition, still have the same name and allegations?
III. II. Why are your labels misleading and with incorrect information? How can a label state that such product has no colorants or preservatives, when in its ingredients list clearly shows the use of chemical products?
IV. III. Why products made for infants and children, often times have more sugar that the same product for adults; when evidence is well established on the prejudices of sugar at early age, and throughout the cycle of a brain and body, who are still developing? Are there plans, to have children’s brains damaged?
V. IIII. What are your companies doing, in the face of the rising rates of chronic non-communicable diseases in our countries? They are already efforts, based on information displayed on your global websites, to do so. When will these changes: plant-based products, lower sugar and sodium, positive ingredients; be applicable to products already consumed in African countries.
VI. What will be the role of your companies, when we start another epidemic of other diseases related to ingredients on your so called food products, that scientists ae currently studying?
VII. Why are your food companies, using ingredients that are being discontinued, due to its association to health implications (in European countries) to make food products for African countries?
VIII. How does underreporting the total caloric values, fats or sugars is in conformity with African regulations – if the portion amount declared in your label is different from the portion size you confirmed via your communication?
As it was replied to me on September
“Unilever adheres to food labelling regulations of countries or regions in which we operate. Consequently, ingredients list are tailored to meet local regulatory requirements… based on the local market profile”.
“At Nestlé, we take labelling accuracy very seriously. All our labels’ declarations undergo a rigorous validation process … this ensures that the information presented is 100% accurate…” “In terms of claims such as “high fat” or similar descriptions …The current standards for prepackaged products do not require such statements…”
I am also sharing a few examples, of the results of some of my analysis (general), for the same product (as per illustration taken from your own website) in other countries and my beloved African countries.
Looking forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Tamára Ramos
