Nestlé - reformulation case studies
“At Nestlé we take our commitment to reformulation seriously. In many categories
we already lead the way offering products with
some of the lowest levels of salt, saturated fat and sugar.
As a responsible
manufacturer we will continue to look for ways to reduce
them even further without compromising on the quality and taste that our
consumers expect from a Nestlé product”
Paul Grimwood, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé UK & Ireland
- Reformulation policies have been in place at Nestlé since 1999.
- Between 2005 and 2007 12.3% less sugar; 15.6% less fat and 13.6% less salt were
used in UK products.
- Nestlé works hard to implement national nutritional reformulation policies while
maintaining overall taste.
- The 60:40+ test ensures that consumers prefer products on taste whilst
maintaining
nutrition standards.
- Nestlé invests 1.9bn Swiss Francs every year in research and development – more
than
any other food company.
As the world's largest food company, Nestlé is committed to Nutrition, Health
and Wellness
and believes that research can help make better food so that people can live
better lives.
In 2007, hydrogenated vegetable oil was removed from Coffee Mate, resulting in a
21%
decrease in saturated fat. In 2008, the sodium in Herta Pork Frankfurters was
reduced by
10% and Carnation Evaporated Light and Condensed Light Milks contain 56% and
98%
less fat than the standard products.
The Nestlé Research Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland, is one of the world's
leading
research institutions in food, nutrition and life sciences, employing over 300
scientists.
The global Nutrition, Health and Wellness initiatives are also put to the
scrutiny of
the Nestlé Nutrition Council. Composed of leading scientists and a Nobel Prize
winner, the Council's advice helps to shape Nestlé's nutrition strategy and
policies globally.
Nestlé knows that consumers are seeking healthy foods that do not compromise
on taste. It uses a '60:40+' test, which is designed to see if 60% of consumers
prefer
the taste of Nestlé products over the leading competitor. The '+' is the
nutritional check
against internal standards and UK-specific targets for key nutrients such as
calories,
sugars, fat, saturated fat and trans fats.
The company regularly employs the 60:40+ test to its most successful brands to
ensure
consumers prefer the products on taste. It also identifies the health benefits
of a food or
drink to guarantee that taste is combined with good nutrition.
Nestlé products are not just checked against its own, rigorous internal
standards.
It also benchmarks products against UK-specific nutrient targets, profiles and
recommendations. In 2008, Nestlé audited its entire UK brands portfolio and,
where
appropriate, has identified actions for ongoing improvement.
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Last reviewed: 06 Jul 2009