Multinational companies (MNCs) such as Nestle, PepsiCo, and Unilever sell lower quality products in low-income countries such as India with an average Health Star Rating of 1.8 versus 2.3, claims a report by the global index published by Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), media reports said.
The index alleges products sold by these companies and others have lower scores on a health rating system, developed in Australia and New Zealand. The Health Star Rating system ranks products on their level of healthiness – 5 is the best and 3.5 is a healthier choice. Products sold by these MNCs in high-income countries showed an average score of 2.3. In comparison, those sold in low-income countries scored 1.8.
A Business Standard report said the group assessed food products sold in more than 30 countries.
Reuters quoted Mark Wijne, research director at ATNI, as saying that this is 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 their healthier products.” He called it a “wake-up call” for these countries.
The index was first released in 2021, but this year is the first time it split the assessment into low and high-income countries.
According to ATNI, this index is important as the global obesity crisis shines a spotlight on the role of packaged foods. According to the World Health Organization, as many as a billion people live with obesity worldwide. The World Bank estimates that as much as 70% of the world’s obese or overweight people live in middle and low-income countries, the Reuters report says.
Nestle told Reuters it is “committed” to the sales of more nutritious foods while PepsiCo declined to comment. A spokesperson for Danone, which was the best performer in the index, said there is always more to do, both at a business and industry level, Mint reported, quoting Reuters.
IndiFoodBev could not independently verify the claims in the reports.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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