Inequities in Nutrition: Global Food Giants Under Fire for Health Disparities

A recent report reveals a concerning trend among the world’s leading food and beverage corporations: they tend to sell less nutritious products in low-income countries than in wealthier ones. The assessment, conducted by the non-profit Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), evaluates major companies like Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever as part of a comprehensive global index. This is ATNI’s first analysis since 2021, and it paints a stark picture of nutritional inequities between different income regions.

The report analyzed over 30 companies, finding that products sold in low-income countries consistently received lower scores on the Health Star Rating system, a model developed in Australia and New Zealand. On this scale, where a rating above 3.5 indicates a healthier choice, products in wealthier countries averaged a 2.3 rating, while those in poorer nations lagged behind with an average rating of just 1.8.

ATNI’s research director, Mark Wijne, noted the urgent need for government intervention, emphasizing the lack of healthy product options being made available in low-income regions. He described the data as a “clear signal” that multinational companies are not prioritizing health in the world’s poorest countries, where they have been increasingly active.

The report marks ATNI’s first approach to distinguishing products by income region, spotlighting the role of packaged foods in the global obesity crisis. According to the World Health Organization, over one billion people worldwide now live with obesity, and the World Bank estimates that 70% of those who are overweight or obese reside in low- and middle-income countries.

In response, a Nestlé representative reiterated the company’s commitment to increasing its range of healthier products and promoting balanced diets. Nestlé also emphasized its efforts to fortify products in developing regions to address local nutrient deficiencies. PepsiCo, on the other hand, declined to comment directly on the report. However, the company recently announced goals to reduce sodium in some products and incorporate whole grains in its food lines.

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