Overview

The Global Access to Nutrition Index 2024 reveals that global food giants like Unilever, Coca-Cola, Mondelez, PepsiCo, Kellanova, Nestlé, Lotte, and Mars are offering less nutritious products in low-income countries, including India.

Published by the independent Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), the index shows a stark difference in health star ratings. Products in low-income countries scored an average of 1.8, compared to 2.3 in high-income nations. With ratings from 1 to 5 (above 3.5 deemed healthier), this is the first index to categorize scores by income level. The report also highlights the shift in the packaged foods industry, where increased weight loss drug use in affluent markets is pushing companies to explore new categories and expand in low- and middle-income countries, which now generate more revenue than high-income markets.

India: A Major Market for Unilever and Other Multinationals

India is Unilever’s second-largest market by revenue, after the US, with nearly 60% of its income coming from emerging markets. Hindustan Unilever Ltd., the Indian arm, is known for brands like Red Label, Lipton, Horlicks, Boost, and Magnum.

The ATNi index classifies India and other countries like Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Vietnam as low- or lower-middle-income. The index evaluated 30 top food companies on factors like nutrient profiles and responsible marketing. In India, key players such as Unilever, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo generate 11-38% of their sales from healthier products, below the ATNi’s 50% target for 2030. Of these, Unilever offers just 16%, PepsiCo 28%, Nestlé 25%, and Mondelez 10%. The index found that high-income markets have products with more micronutrients compared to lower-income regions.

Some companies, like PepsiCo, are rolling out nutrient models in specific regions, such as its snack range in the EU. However, the report argues that voluntary measures have not produced sufficient nutrition improvements and calls for mandatory labelling, higher taxes on unhealthy products, lower prices for healthier foods, and stricter marketing regulations.

Urgent Need for Clear Definitions and Regulations on Healthy Foods in India

India’s food regulatory body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is working to implement mandatory nutritional labelling, including total sugars, salt, and saturated fats, on packaged food products. However, experts argue that India still lacks a clear definition distinguishing unhealthy foods from healthy ones. If the nation overlooks this distinction, unhealthy food could contribute to the next major health crisis.

Source: Business Today