Nestle pushes for simpler US food labels to shed 'Frankenstein' ingredients image
The company says simpler terms could help consumers understand labels and reduce rejection of products with ingredients such as ascorbic acid and beta-carotene.
- Nestle has lobbied U.S. authorities to permit simpler ingredient descriptions on packaging, replacing technical terms like "ascorbic acid" with "vitamin C" to prevent consumers from rejecting safe, naturally derived ingredients.
- A report by Innova Market Insights released last year found about three-quarters of North American consumers reconsider purchases based on ingredient lists, as current U.S. regulations often mandate technical terms without explaining intended use.
- Stefan Palzer, Nestle technology chief, confirmed the company is lobbying via trade associations to simplify labels; a former executive said technical labeling makes products sound like "Frankenstein food," while industry groups argue technical names unfairly stigmatize safe products.
- Nestle has raised the issue directly with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s team under the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it continues engaging with industry stakeholders on labeling decisions.
- While some companies like Germany's Aldi are eliminating ingredients so shoppers "can feel good about adding to their carts," public health advocates argue that less scientific labeling could be misleading and allow industry members to obscure additive usage.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Nestle pushes for simpler US food labels to win back consumer interest
Nestle is lobbying US authorities including officials connected to the significant initiative “Make America Healthy Again” initiative to update food labeling regulations that allow...
Nestle pushes for simpler US food labels to shed 'Frankenstein' ingredients image
As shoppers increasingly scrutinise ingredient labels to avoid products perceived as heavily processed, Nestle , maker of Nescafe coffee and KitKat chocolate, has been lobbying U.S. authorities to allow simpler descriptions using common rather than scientific names on packaging.
Nestlé has raised the issue directly with the team of Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while officials review food labelling policies under the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
Today, there is a great tendency to put aside over-processed foods. Whether you only eat steak directly from a wooden cutting board or spend a small fortune to make sure your chocolate doesn’t carry preservatives, people are thoroughly analyzing their usual favorite products and discovering that they are full of ingredients they don’t recognize. Nestlé, owner of KitKat, Nescafé, Shreddies, After Eight and more than 2,000 brands around the world,…
Nestlé wants simpler food labels to shed ‘Frankenstein’ ingredients image
As shoppers increasingly scrutinise ingredient labels to avoid products perceived as heavily processed, Nestlé, maker of Nescafe coffee and KitKat chocolate, has been lobbying US authorities to allow simpler descriptions using common rather than scientific names on packaging. Examples include replacing the words “ascorbic acid” with the more widely understood vitamin C in the list of ingredients and “beta-carotene” with vitamin A, to avoid consu…
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