The largest Swiss food company, Nestlé, has admitted that most of its products do not meet the “recognized definition of healthy (food.— “B”), and “some … categories and products can never be considered ‘healthy’.” The acknowledgment is contained in an internal company presentation reviewed by the Financial Times.
According to the newspaper, the presentation was prepared at the beginning of the year and was distributed among the top managers of the company. The FT reports that only 37% of food and beverage products produced by Nestlé (excluding animal feed and specialty medical foods) exceed the 3.5 point rating according to Australia’s health food system. This five-star system is reportedly used in research by experts around the world. Nestlé itself admits that 3.5 points on this system is “the recognized threshold for determining (healthy eating. – “B”)».
As follows from the presentation, FT reports, approximately 70% of products (the share was calculated by revenue) failed to get a rating of 3.5. In the segment of drinks (with the exception of pure coffee) 96% of goods are recognized as unhealthy, in the segment of sweets and ice cream – 99%. However, 82% of mineral water and 60% of dairy products managed to get more than 3.5 points.
“We’ve made significant improvements to our products … yet our portfolio (of products.— “B”) still does not meet external definitions of health in an environment where regulatory pressures and consumer demands are off the charts, ”the FT cites an internal company document.
Calculations exclude baby food, pet food, coffee, and food for people with certain special medical conditions. Thus, the data covers approximately half of the company’s annual revenues.
The newspaper quoted a company spokesman as saying: “In recent years, we have released thousands of products for children and families that meet external … standards … We believe that a healthy diet means finding a balance between health and joy. This includes finding a place for treats that are consumed in moderation. “
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