The world’s largest food and beverage companies are selling less healthy products in low-income countries compared to those in wealthier nations – contributing to the global obesity crisis as packaged foods become more prevalent worldwide, a report has warned.
Published this week by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), the report raises concerns about the nutritional quality of products from major multinationals, including Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever, sold in poorer regions.
The findings show a significant gap in healthfulness, with products sold in low-income countries scoring an average of just 1.8 stars on the Health Star Rating system, compared to 2.3 stars in high-income countries.
The Health Star Rating, developed in Australia and New Zealand, ranks products from 0 to 5 stars, with scores above 3.5 indicating healthier options.
“It’s a very clear picture that what these companies are selling in the poorest countries in the world, where they are more and more active, are not healthy products,” Mark Wijne, ATNI’s research director, told Reuters.
He described the findings as a “wake-up call” for governments in low-income countries, urging them “to be vigilant”.
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Obesity crisis
The report highlights the impact of packaged foods on the global obesity crisis, now affecting more than one billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
The World Bank estimates that 70 percent of those who are overweight or obese now live in low- and middle-income countries, where affordable, processed foods high in sugars, fats and salt contribute to rising rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Nestlé responded to the report, stating in an email that the company is “committed to growing our sales of more nutritious foods, as well as guiding people towards more balanced diets”.
The spokesperson added that Nestlé fortifies products to help bridge nutrient gaps in developing countries.
PepsiCo declined to comment, though the company set new goals last year to reduce sodium in its potato chips and add whole grains to its products.
(with newswires)
