A nutrient profiling system for the (re)formulation of a global food and beverage portfolio

Abstract

PurposeTo describe the Nestlé Nutritional Profiling System (NNPS) developed to guide the reformulation of Nestlé products, and the results of its application in the USA and France.DesignThe NNPS is a category-specific system that calculates nutrient targets per serving as consumed, based on age-adjusted dietary guidelines. Products are aggregated into 32 food categories. The NNPS ensures that excessive amounts of nutrients to limit cannot be compensated for by adding nutrients to encourage. A study was conducted to measure changes in nutrient profiles of the most widely purchased Nestlé products from eight food categories (n = 99) in the USA and France. A comparison was made between the 2009–2010 and 2014–2015 products.ResultsThe application of the NNPS between 2009–2010 and 2014–2015 was associated with an overall downwards trend for all nutrients to limit. Sodium and total sugars contents were reduced by up to 22 and 31 %, respectively. Saturated Fatty Acids and total fat reductions were less homogeneous across categories, with children products having larger reductions. Energy per serving was reduced by <10 % in most categories, while serving sizes remained unchanged.ConclusionsThe NNPS sets feasible and yet challenging targets for public health-oriented reformulation of a varied product portfolio; its application was associated with improved nutrient density in eight major food categories in the USA and France. Confirmatory analyses are needed in other countries and food categories; the impact of such a large-scale reformulation on dietary intake and health remains to be investigated.

Food- and diet-based validations of a Nestlé Nutrient Profiling System for reformulation in two nationally representative surveys

“…In both data sets, each food was categorised into one of the thirty-five categories of the NNPS ( 8 , 13 ) , by four trained researchers by (1) identifying the product role in the diet and (2) grouping products based on similar nutrient composition and/or challenges in the reformulation process. When categorisation was not straightforward, allocation to a specific category was reviewed by the team.…”

“…The NNPS is a category-specific NP system that sets nutrient targets per serving as consumed, based on age-adjusted dietary guidelines ( 8 , 13 ) . For every thirty-five categories, targets were defined for energy, total and saturated fats, added sugars and Na; for some categories, targets for other nutrients such as protein, fibre and Ca were set according to their specificity (e.g.…”

“…Those systems, recognised as relevant public health tools, are developed with the aim to guide consumers towards healthier food choices ( 2 ) through food labelling ( 3 ) , regulation of nutrition and health claims ( 4 ) and control of advertising towards children ( 5 , 6 ) . For food manufacturers, NP systems can be used in order to improve the nutritional quality of their product portfolio ( 7 , 8 ) . In view of those many different purposes, currently available NP systems are based on different algorithms.…”

Healthy and sustainable diets for future generations

“…Industry can help shape that with products that are congruent with this ideal. Nutrient profiling systems that provide a means to evaluation the nutritional value of products, including those made for children, are useful in product renovation and innovation 41 as well as for restricting marketing to children. 42 Partnering this with increased spending on research and development to create affordable, nutrient-dense, responsible and profitable products that are welcomed into a healthy and sustainable dietary framework would be ideal.…”

Integrated Product Development at Nestlé

“…Nestlé Research developed in 2004 the Nestlé Nutritional Profiling System (NNPS) that guides the nutritional dimension of formulation and reformulation of Nestlé products nutritional product development [5]. The NNPS translates nutritional recommendations from the World Health Organization and other international and national organizations-taking also technical feasibility into account-into tangible product targets, e.g.…”