Danone UK and Ireland has launched new health commitments, including to never produce a product for children which is high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS).
This comes as part of the food corporation’s promise to consumers that it will prioritise healthy products in its portfolio, with the commitments being the new minimum threshold that its consumer brands including Alpro, Activia, Light & Free, Actimel, Oykos, Volic and Evian will be held to.
As part of this, Danone has also confirmed that at least 90% of its portfolio by volume sales will fall into the “healthy” categories, recieving a score of at least 3.5 stars out of five of the Health Star Rating index.
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This comes as research comissioned by Danone found that 94% of UK consumers try to eat healthily and pay attention to the food they eat for either all, or at least some of the time.
Almost 50% of all UK shoppers are also most consious of the sugar and fat content of a product when making purchasing decisions.
Danone is hoping that as a result of its health-based commitments, this will encourage others to further raise health standards in the UK and Ireland food and drinks sector.
As part of this decision, Danone will also be implementing clear, consistent front of pack nutritional labelling in line with furture UK and Ireland legislation and in advance of that, will publish nutritional benchmarks for its portfolio.
“Health is at the heart of everything we do, and I am proud to announce that 90% of our products are now not high in sugar, salt, or fat. We know families want the healthy choice to be the easy choice and we are committed to supporting them,” Danone UK and Ireland predicent, James Mayer said.
“Consumers are more health conscious today than they ever have been. As an industry, we must continue to help consumers to make healthy choices by offering products that are both tasty and nutritious. That is why, as a purpose-led company, we commit to maintain a strongly health-focused portfolio.”
