Reducing sugars, fat, and sodium for a more nutritious diet
In line with the recommendations and guidance of major public health organizations (USDA, WHO, etc.), we contribute to healthier eating by reducing the levels of sugars, fat, and sodium in our foods and drinks. These are critical components of a balanced diet, and when consumed in excess, minimizing their consumption can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cholesterol excess, diabetes, or obesity.
In order to guarantee an optimized nutrition profile of our portfolio, we have developed nutritional targets for all our products, to guide innovation and renovation of our products. In the context of the Danone Impact Journey, we even took a commitment related to the content in added and total sugars in our kids foods and drinks. This commitment has produced tangible results since we have decreased the levels of added sugar in many of our products while maintaining their great taste. Similarly, we have focused on controlling fat content, especially saturated fat, we are further improving the nutritional quality of our foods.
By working toward these nutritional targets, we ensure that our products are part of a balanced diet that contributes to long-term health and well-being.
Increasing nutritional value: vitamins, minerals, and fiber in every bite
Our work is not only to limit some components in our foods, but most importantly to ensure they contain nutrients to encourage. By providing essential vitamins, minerals or fiber, we aim to enhance the nutritional profile of our products to support the diverse nutritional needs of consumers.
For example, the majority of our dairy and plant-based options contain calcium and some of them may also contain vitamin D or fibers.. These nutrients play a crucial role in maintaining bone health, supporting the immune system, and promoting gut health.
This focus on improving nutrient density while reducing nutrients to limit reflects our dedication to offering food that supports a healthy lifestyle.
Targeting key dietary needs for children and vulnerable populations
Children, the elderly and the sick need specific nutritional support to ensure their growth, development and well-being or to help them in their path to recovery. Our specialized nutrition products, including infant formula and medical nutrition solutions, are thus carefully formulated to meet these specific dietary needs.
For infants, our formulas are designed to mimic the composition of breast milk , providing essential nutrients for optimal growth and immune system development. And our medical nutrition products, such as those for patients with metabolic disorders or recovering from surgery, provide balanced nutrition to support healing and recovery.
In addition to our expertise in children's nutrition, we are investing heavily to ensure better health for the elderly, who often suffer from malnutrition due to factors such as lack of appetite, their state of health or difficulty in absorbing nutrients. For them, we offer medical nutrition solutions specifically formulated to help them maintain a good diet and improve their quality of life.
Transparency and Empowerment Through Nutrition Information
At Danone, transparency is a key principle guiding our approach to nutrition. We believe that consumers deserve access to clear, meaningful and easily understandable information about the products they choose to consume, enabling them to make informed decisions that support their health and well-being.
Apart from complying with mandatory labeling requirements, in response to growing demand for transparency, Danone often also offers additional nutritional information both on our packaging and websites. This move towards Transparent Labeling allows consumers to easily compare key nutrients, understand their nutritional value, and quickly assess the health benefits of each product. Through this initiative we empower consumers to make healthier food choices that align with their individual dietary needs.
In line with our broader commitment to consumer education and to supporting healthier eating habits, Danone only makes nutrition and health claims on products that achieve a rating of 2.5 stars or higher under the Health Star Rating system. This ensures that our claims are grounded in recognized standards and reflect the overall nutritional quality of our products.
Measuring progress: Danone’s goals and achievements in nutritional excellence
Our efforts to achieve nutritional excellence are both measurable and continuously evolving. Since we first set nutritional targets, we have made significant progress in reducing ingredients such as sugars, fat, and sodium, while increasing the content of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This ongoing process reflects our dedication to providing healthier food and drinks to our consumers.
For example, in 2023, 89.2% of the volumes sold from our dairy, plant-based, and water products were also rated 3.5 stars or more according to the Health Star Rating system.
Our achievements are rigorously tracked through a comprehensive system of data collection and monitoring. This allows us to evaluate our progress, assess the effectiveness of our initiatives, and make adjustments where necessary to ensure that our products are aligned with the highest nutritional standards.
We have set even more ambitious goals for the future and by 2025:
- We want 95% of our dairy and plant-based volume sold aimed at children (ages 3-12 years) to be 10g or less TOTAL sugars per 100g.
- We will ensure that 85% of kids dairy volume sold are enriched with relevant vitamins and minerals.
- We aim for 95% of our toddler milk sales volume (for children aged 1-3 years) with 1.25g or less added sugars per 100 kcal.
In addition to these nutritional targets, our health and nutrition initiatives are supported by extensive scientific research and collaborations with nutrition experts and public health organizations. By embedding these practices into our product development and continuously measuring our progress, we ensure that we are consistently moving toward our mission of improving global health through better nutrition.
Danone’s journey to sustainable nutrition and food systems
Sustainability and nutrition are inextricably linked. At Danone, we believe that improving the nutritional quality of our products is not only about better health for individuals but also about better health for the planet. To achieve this, we are committed to sustainable sourcing, regenerative agriculture, and reducing our environmental impact.
We are actively working to reduce our water footprint, use eco-friendly packaging , and support regenerative farming practices. By investing in responsible agriculture, we ensure that the food systems we rely on to produce our products are not only healthy but also resilient and future-proof.
All these initiatives demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing consumers with options that meet the health standards necessary for a balanced diet. This commitment to sustainable nutrition means that we can provide healthier food options while protecting the resources needed to produce them for generations to come.
