Nestle said Monday (May 31) that it was working on updating its nutrition and health strategy after the Financial Times reported that an internal document from the food giant described a large proportion of its foods and beverages as unhealthy.
The newspaper said it saw an internal presentation among top executives earlier this year saying that more than 60 percent of Nestle’s mainstream food and beverage portfolio is not considered healthy under an “accepted definition of health.” could become.
The paper said that assessment applies to about half of Nestle’s total portfolio, as categories such as medical nutrition, pet food, coffee, and baby food were excluded from the analysis.
Jon Cox, an analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux, said that including these categories would significantly reduce the proportion of products that could be considered unhealthy.
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“Given the group’s candy, ice cream and pizza businesses, the real figure for the group would be 28 percent based on estimates for 2021, which is not a surprise,” he said in a note. He said the report could indicate changes in the product portfolio, particularly an exit from the mainstream candy business.
Nestlé said in a statement that it is working on a “company-wide project” to update its nutrition and health strategy and is reviewing its entire portfolio to ensure that its products help meet people’s nutritional needs.
It said it has reduced sugar and sodium in its products by about 14-15 percent over the past seven years and will continue to make its products healthier.
Nestlé shares were up 0.2 percent at 0951 GMT (5:51 p.m. Singapore time), broadly in line with the European food sector.
