Nestle speeds salt reduction efforts to hit WHO target

By CnAgri2013-11-07 11:35:15 Print

Nestle has said it will accelerate efforts to reduce salt across all its food brands globally in a bid to meet a new World Health Organization salt intake target.

The Swiss dairy and food giant said it will reduce the amount of salt in hundreds of its savoury products including soups, noodles, recipe mixes, frozen and chilled meals and pizzas. The WHO has set a target of no more than 5g of salt per person, per day, by 2025.

In addition, all new launches will be specially formulated with an even lower level of sodium, Nestle said.

"We have made great strides in reducing the salt content of our food products in recent years and we want to build on that progress," said Henri-Pierre Lenoble, nutrition, health and wellness manager within Nestl¨| Food.

"Our goal is to offer consumers products that enable them to make practical, healthy nutritional choices, every day."

Since 2005, Nestle has been slowly reducing the salt levels in its products in the UK and Ireland. This has included a further 9% reduction of salt in its Herta Classics Frankfurters, and in its Stouffer's Mac & cheese meal in the US by around 15%.

Over the next four years, Nestle said it will continue its work to reduce salt by a further 10% in relevant food products on a global basis. Nestle UK & Ireland we will also work closely with relevant stakeholders to implement the new Responsibility Deal post 2012 salt targets.

Last week, as part of the Responsibility Deal Nestle, along with Mondelez International and Unilever, pledged to make changes to their products to try to cut the amount of saturated fat consumed in the UK.

Nestle is one of a number of companies - that also include Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons - that have signed up to an agreement with the UK government that will see some lower the sat fat in selected lines and also promote switching to healthier products.