Washington—Nestle recently announced further sodium reduction efforts and reaffirmed its commitment to help people around the world reduce their dietary sodium intake.
Nestle supports the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) efforts to release draft voluntary sodium reduction targets.
Nestle said it is committed to helping people consume no more than 2,000 milligrams per day, which is lower than the current US dietary guidelines recommendation of 2,300 milligrams per day.
Nestle will increase the number of products across its portfolio that could reasonably fit into a dietary pattern that contains less than 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day (currently, 43 percent of Nestle’s foods meet this target).
Nestle is implementing its sodium reduction efforts in accordance with the Nestle Nutrition Profiling System and the Nestle Nutritional Foundation criteria to ensure the renovated foods and beverages deliver what it calls a stronger nutritional profile without compromising taste or food safety.
Between 2005 and 2012, the company reduced sodium by 22.7 percent in its food portfolio. Since 2013, the company has further reduced sodium content by 8 percent compared to 2012 levels, with an objective of a 10 percent reduction by the end of 2016.
In the US, Nestle’s progress to date in sodium reduction includes:
• Reducing sodium by an average of 10 percent compared to 2013 levels in 250 products across the entire portfolio of six Nestle pizza and snack brands: DiGiorno, Tombstone, California Pizza Kitchen, Jack’s, Hot Pockets and Lean Pockets.
• The Lean Cuisine brand has evolved over the 35 years since its launch from a line of 10 dishes with an average of 1,000 milligrams of sodium per serving to more than 100 recipes with an average of 600 milligrams of sodium each.
• In 2011, Nestle reduced sodium levels in its Gerber Lil’ Entrees line by as much as 30 percent, and has continued to reduce sodium in its toddler meals.
Nestle is encouraging its industry colleagues, along with others in both the private and public sector, “to join forces and combine our varied expertise to help people move toward healthier eating patterns, including a diet lower in sodium,” said Paul Grimwood, chairman and CEO, Nestle USA.
