Nestlé has announced changes to how it reports the nutritional value of its products in response to concerns about the company’s efforts to promote healthier foods. Starting with its next non-financial report, Nestlé will align its nutrition reporting with the Access to Nutrition initiative, a foundation advocating for a healthier food supply, according to CEO Laurent Freixe.
The company, known for brands like Lean Cuisine and Tombstone pizza, will introduce a sales-weighted average measure for relevant categories and its total portfolio. Nestlé will also continue to use the Health Star Rating system as the basis for its nutrition profile reporting.
ShareAction, an investment non-profit, has criticized Nestlé for its approach to measuring and reporting sales of nutritious products. The organization highlighted that Nestlé includes items like coffee, infant food, and milk formula for young children in its “nutritious” category, despite these products not being covered by the Health Star Rating system or recommended by health professionals.
Following discussions with ShareAction investors in late 2024, Freixe agreed to enhance reporting transparency to facilitate comparisons among food industry companies for investors.
ShareAction has praised Nestlé’s decision to improve transparency on healthy product sales, calling it a significant step towards setting a high standard for health and nutrition reporting in the industry. Garance Boullenger, lead of ShareAction’s healthy markets initiative, emphasized the importance of companies taking responsibility for their impact on public health.
Food manufacturers, including Nestlé, are under pressure to enhance the nutritional value of their products as consumers seek healthier options. Unhealthy diets have been linked to various health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, prompting calls for industry-wide improvements.
In 2023, Nestlé reported that 37% of its net sales (excluding pet care and specialized nutrition) came from products classified as “healthy” based on the Health Star Rating system. The company also acknowledged that 43% of its net sales were from food and beverages that should be consumed occasionally or have their nutritional value enhanced.
As part of its commitment to promoting nutritious items, Nestlé aims to increase sales of healthier products by $21.8 billion to $27.3 billion by the end of the decade, representing a 50% growth over its 2022 sales.