One in five deaths globally link to poor diet: Nutrition Index        

Alarmingly, close to a third of women of reproductive age and half of all children do not consume sufficient micronutrients

ATNi has launched the fifth edition of the Global Access to Nutrition Index, which evaluates the world’s 30 largest food and beverage manufacturers and analyses over 52,000 products, representing 23 per cent of the global market share.

According to the findings, one in five deaths globally is linked to a poor diet. Additionally, one in eight adults is classified as obese, and 150 million children are too short for their age due to inadequate nutrition. Alarmingly, close to a third of women of reproductive age and half of all children do not consume sufficient micronutrients.

The Index highlights some important progress: more companies are now setting targets to improve the health of their product portfolios by using internationally recognised Nutrient Profiling Models (NPMs) to classify their products as “healthier.”

However, despite this progress, there has been little to no improvement in key metrics related to the healthiness of product portfolios overall. At the same time, the estimated sales values of the companies’ healthier products have increased, indicating that consumers are increasingly opting for healthier options. Notably, the healthiness of product portfolios was found to be lowest in low-income countries, revealing disparities in product offerings across various markets and income groups.

Food and beverage manufacturers are recognising their role in influencing consumers’ diets, but bolder action is necessary from the industry, policymakers, and investors to promote the production of healthier foods and to encourage healthier diets.