Does Nestlé CERELAC contain preservatives?
NO. CERELAC contains no added preservatives, colors, or artificial flavours, in accordance with the regulations established by FSSAI - Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations 2020’.
CERELAC is a complementary baby food made with grains such as wheat, rice, oats, ragi, and barley, along with milk, fruits, or vegetables depending on the variant. It can be introduced after six months of age, when complementary feeding begins alongside breastfeeding.
There is often confusion among consumers about how packaged baby foods can remain safe for long periods without preservatives. Many assume that any product with a long shelf life must contain chemicals that artificially preserve freshness. However, modern food technology allows maintenance of product safety and nutritional quality through advanced processing and packaging methods rather than through chemical preservatives.
How does Nestlé CERELAC maintain a 12-month shelf life without any preservatives?
Nestlé maintains the shelf life of CERELAC through a carefully controlled manufacturing and packaging process that focuses on moisture control, heat treatment, hygienic handling, and oxygen reduction. These scientific methods help preserve the product naturally while ensuring that it remains safe and nutritious for infants.
1. At the Source: Careful Selection and Testing of Raw Materials
The safety process begins even before manufacturing starts. Every ingredient used in Nestle CERELAC undergoes strict quality checks and laboratory testing. Milk is screened for contaminants such as aflatoxins, heavy metals, antibiotic residues, and pesticides. Similarly, grains and other ingredients are tested for microbial purity and chemical safety. This rigorous quality control ensures that only safe and high-quality raw materials enter the production process.
2. During Manufacturing: Natural Preservation Through Processing
The manufacturing stage plays a crucial role in extending shelf life naturally.
- Heat Treatment: During production, the ingredients are exposed to controlled high temperatures. This heat treatment destroys any potential harmful microorganisms that could otherwise spoil the food or pose health risks.
- Dehydration: One of the most important preservation techniques used in infant cereals is dehydration. CERELAC is produced as a dry cereal powder with very low moisture content. Since microorganisms require water to grow and multiply, reducing moisture significantly helps prevent spoilage and extends product stability without the need for added preservatives.
3. Packaging of the Final Product:
Packaging technology is another major factor that helps maintain freshness. CERELAC is packed in specially designed airtight packaging that protects the product from moisture, air, light, and contamination.
To further improve stability, oxygen inside the package is replaced with nitrogen, which is a safe, inert, food-grade gas. This process, known as nitrogen flushing, helps prevent oxidation and rancidity, especially in products containing milk or natural fats. By minimizing oxygen exposure, the nutritional quality, taste, and freshness of the cereal can be preserved for several months.
In conclusion, CERELAC’s long shelf life is achieved through advanced food processing, dehydration, hygienic manufacturing, and protective packaging rather than through chemical preservatives.
Independent NABL Certified Lab report as proof:
You can check Lab report from independent NABL-Certified Lab below that states that the product was tested for the presence of added colour, added flavour, and added preservative, and the results for all three were marked as “Absent.”
For complete transparency, you can scan the QR code on the pack and view the test details from independent NABL-certified laboratories yourself.