Food Giants Sell Unhealthier Products in Poorer Countries, Report Finds

A new report shows that major food and beverage companies, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever, sell less nutritious products in low-income countries like India.
Products in low-income markets average only 1.8 stars on the Health Star Rating system, compared to 2.3 stars in wealthier countries, highlighting a nutritional gap.
This disparity raises concerns about public health in low-income regions, contributing to global obesity and nutrition challenges.

A new report reveals that leading food and beverage companies, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever, are more likely to sell less nutritious products in low-income countries, such as India.

The findings come from a global index published by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), which evaluated 30 major corporations in its first index update since 2021. The report indicates a significant health gap, with products sold in low-income regions scoring lower on health ratings than those in high-income markets.

This disparity has raised concerns about global food quality and nutrition equity, highlighting potential challenges for public health in lower-income regions.

The Health Star Rating (HSR) system, widely used in Australia and New Zealand, rates products on a scale from 0 to 5 stars, with higher scores signifying healthier choices. Products scoring above 3.5 stars are generally considered healthier options.

In low-income countries, products from major food and beverage companies averaged only 1.8 stars. In comparison, the same companies' products in high-income countries had a slightly higher average rating of 2.3 stars, underscoring a gap in nutritional quality.

“It’s 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 healthy products,” said Mark Wijne, research director at ATNI, in an interview with Reuters.

ATNI emphasized that the index is crucial as packaged foods are playing a growing role in the global obesity crisis. The World Health Organization reports that over one billion people worldwide are affected by obesity, and the World Bank estimates that 70% of those who are overweight or obese live in low- and middle-income countries.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah