ATNI 2021 calls for industry to urgently address nutrition gap in COVID-19 era

ATNI is urgently calling on companies to step up efforts to tackle some of the world’s toughest nutrition challenges.

Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) has launched its 2021 Global Index, assessing the world’s 25 largest global food and beverage manufacturers and their contributions to addressing malnutrition. While some companies have shown significant progress since it’s last iteration in 2018, progress from the top 10 ranking manufacturers has slowed. ATNI is urgently calling on companies to step up efforts to tackle some of the world’s toughest nutrition challenges.

The average score remained the same as 2018: 3.3/10.

• Nestlé led the 2021 ranking with a score of 6.7. The company achieved a top-3 rank in all categories and ranked first on ‘Governance’, and ‘Engagement’.
• Unilever came second with 6.3, and FrieslandCampina third with 5.9.
• Arla showed a big improvement from 3.3 in 2018 to 5.1 in 2021, largely because of a new labeling policy, responsible marketing policies, and an improvement in healthiness of its product portfolio.
• Meiji rose four places, partially due to incorporation of a nutrition strategy in its CSR vision and new policies aimed at marketing to children and labeling.

 

Inge Kauer, Executive Director of ATNI, added, “As the 25 largest food and beverage manufacturers, each must take responsibility to deliver healthy product offerings to consumers across the globe and not leave nutrition behind. That’s no small task – but it’s one that requires action urgently if we are to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals to end world hunger and ensure good health and well-being.”