WARNING! More than half of Nestlé products are harmful to health; See percentages

Transparency is the soul of business, especially when it comes to food manufacturers. In the case of giant Nestlé, for the first time, the world’s largest food producer has released very important data on the nutritional value of the products it sells.

The information is based on the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, a ranking by the Australian and New Zealand governments that determines how healthy a food is.

The report by the brand, responsible for items such as KitKat, Maggi and Nesquik, surprised with the result. This is because around 53% of the manufacturer’s products do not have a “healthy” classification.

Health Star Rating Index

The HSR system is used in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. It also takes into account important levels of food, including salt, fiber, saturated fats and sugars.

The measurement classifies products according to stars, with the least healthy food rating being symbolized by half a star, and the healthiest being represented by five stars. Thus, the more stars a food receives, the healthier it is for human consumption.

Report

The data shows the nutritional levels of the products. In general, they received the following classification:

• 30% of products received at least 3.5 stars;
• 18% of products were between 1.5 and 3.5 stars;
• 17% of items were rated below 1.5 stars;
• the remaining products, around 35%, do not fit into the classification as they are intended for pets.

Despite the worrying numbers, the Nestle highlighted the transparency regarding this information, stating that it is the first food company to publish all this data to the consumer public.

In addition, the company stated that it seeks to reduce the levels of sugar, sodium and saturated fat in its foods. This is a global concern, since the number of people suffering from obesity and other diseases linked to ultra-processed foods has increased significantly.

The “World Obesity Atlas 2023”, by the World Obesity Federation, warns of the projection that 41% of the Brazilian adult population will be obese in 2035. Globally, this number could reach more than 4 billion people.