Today, Danone UK & Ireland launches new health commitments as part of its promise to consumers that it will prioritise healthy products in its portfolio.
Danone UK & Ireland, the market leader in branded yogurts, plant-based drinks and waters in the UK and Ireland, has made public its health commitments for those categories as it looks to further strengthen its position as a purpose led, health focussed major food and drink company. The commitments mean that Danone UK & Ireland will never produce a product high in sugar, salt, or fat for children. They also mean that 90% of its portfolio, by volume of sales, will fall into the “healthy” categories, or those scoring at least 3.5 stars out of 5, of the Health Star Rating index. The international index assesses the overall nutritional profile of packaged food and provides a quick, easy, standard way to compare foods.
The announcement comes at a time when UK consumers are increasingly health conscious. Research commissioned by Danone UK & Ireland reveals that 94% of UK consumers try to eat healthily and pay attention to the food they eat all, or at least some of the time. Consumers are also most conscious of the sugar and fat content of a product when making purchasing decisions, these nutritional elements being a concern for almost half (50% and 49% respectively) of all UK shoppers.
“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” said James Mayer, president of Danone UK & Ireland. “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.”
Danone UK & Ireland hopes that its commitments will encourage others to further raise health standards in the UK and Ireland food and drinks sector. These ambitious commitments are the new minimum threshold Danone UK & Ireland’s consumer brands including Alpro, Activia, Light & Free, Actimel, Oykos, Volvic and Evian, will be held to.
As part of the commitments, Danone UK & Ireland has also confirmed its intention to implement clear, consistent front of pack nutritional labelling in line with future UK and Ireland legislation. In advance of that, it will transparently publish nutritional benchmarks for its portfolio, using the HSR system and UK Government HFSS guidelines as benchmarks – alongside product nutritional information – on its website. It will also confirm ongoing compliance with its own commitments.
As part of its ongoing commitment to health, the business is already working with several like-minded partners including retailers and NGOs to promote the importance of healthy, sustainable diets. It is now appealing for others to join it in helping the nation eat more healthily.
