Leading food brands make health commitments

Food group Nestlé, vending machine firm Selecta and Swiss retailer Coop have made fresh commitments to the Federal Health Office’s healthy eating drive.

The goals of the campaign are to encourage companies to commit to reducing the salt and fat content in their food products, to offer more balanced foods in schools and to give up advertising aimed at children.

For its part, Selecta plans to increase the selection of healthy foods available in its vending machines in schools, doubling the size of its “fresh and fit” range by the end of 2013.

By the end of next year Nestlé has committed to reducing the saturated fat content in its Findus frozen food range by 30 per cent. By the end of 2015 the manufacturers have pledged to reduce the salt content in the same range by ten per cent.

Coop aims to reduce the salt content in 300 fresh own-brand convenience foods by the end of 2012.    

Danone, Kraft Foods, Intersnack, Procter & Gamble and Zweifel Pomy-Chips have also joined the “Swiss Pledge” initiative, founded last December by Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever. Swiss Pledge replicates the commitments of a similar European Union pledge.

The food and non-alcoholic beverage producers have all agreed to cease advertising their products to children under 12.