Nestle to cut down sugar by 5% & sodium by 10% by 2020

Nestle, one of the world's biggest foods companies, has decided to transform its products to a much healthier version. Nestle had made a commitment last week to make healthier products, for which it is reducing salt and sodium content in its Maggi noodles, cutting sugar by about 10% in KitKat chocolate and dairy products, and stepping up portion control in Munch chocolates.

Nestle will extend its ‘health drive’ to other product categories as well. It will now make low-sugar and low-salt variant for dairy items such as yoghurt and infant cereal, Cerelac.

Nestle SA has announced a series of global commitments to reduce sugars, sodium, saturated fats and trans-fats, introduce nutritious products, step up food fortification, remove artificial colours, restrict marketing to children, step up nutrition data on packs at points of sale and online, and disseminate information on portion control.

Nestle has said that over 99% of fats and oils in its foods and beverages, starting January 1 this year, will not contain trans-fats across products and markets.

Nestle has also made a statement to reduce added sugar by 5% and sodium by 10% by 2020.

Ceregrow, Nestle’s cereal brand for children, fortified with iron and fruit, and Milo health drink with less than 10% sucrose per pack are being placed in stores now. The company is working on similar options in other product categories.

A statement on the Nestle website reads, "We will extend our guidance on portions to our consumer recipes, and relevant teenager and adult products by 2020."

It also says that by the same year, it will remove all artificial colours from its products.

Nestle has said that from January 1 this year, over 99% of fats and oils in its foods and beverages will not contain trans-fats across products and markets. By 2020, it will reduce added sugar by 5% and sodium by 10%.