Nestlé, the maker of KitKats, Maggi noodles and Nescafe, describes the 3.5 star threshold as a “recognised definition of health”. Within its overall food and drink portfolio, some 70 per cent of Nestlé’s food products failed to meet that threshold, the presentation said, along with 96 per cent of beverages – excluding pure coffee – and 99 per cent of Nestlé’s confectionery and ice cream portfolio. The group is also updating its internal nutrition standards, known as the Nestlé Nutritional Foundation, that were introduced under former chief executive Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, who characterised Nestlé as a “nutrition, health and wellness company”. Nestlé has sold some of its divisions that produced less healthy products, such as a 60 per cent stake in the Herta charcuterie arm in 2019. Nestlé said: “In recent years, we have launched thousands of products for kids and families that meet external nutrition yardsticks.

Source: The Irish Times May 31, 2021 09:06 UTC