(Monday 1st April) Today, nine of the UK’s leading advocates for public health and healthier food have co-signed a letter calling on shareholders in the world’s largest food producer Nestlé, to support a resolution calling on the company to increase the number of healthier food products it sells.
The letter, published in today’s edition of the Times, sets out the “devastating impact unhealthy food is having on public health globally. Recently the UK Government reported that obesity costs the NHS an estimated £6.5 billion a year and is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer.”
In the letter, the nine signatories, including Lord Bethell, former Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Health and Social care, Alison Tredstone former Head of Nutrition at Public Health England and Thomasina Miers, restauranteur and co-founder of Wahaca, set out why they believe voters should support the resolution for healthier foods:
“Companies that want to be successful in the long-term should ensure that they don’t rely too heavily on unhealthy products and heed the growing consumer demand for healthier food, which will help deliver better health outcomes globally. That is why we are urging shareholders in Nestlé to support the resolution this month and ensure the company plays its part in helping to shape healthier societies across the world.”
The resolution has been coordinated by Europe’s largest responsible investment charity ShareAction. Commenting on the support from leading figures from the world of public health and the food industry Simon Rawson, Deputy Chief Executive of the charity, said
“This is a powerful endorsement for this resolution from experts in public health and nutrition about the impacts of diet-related ill health and the role that global food manufacturers in shaping people’s diets.
The approval set out in today’s letter to the Times should have the effect on shareholders to seriously consider the long-term consequences of Nestlé’s approach to the health impacts of the foods it sells.
I would hope all shareholders would look at the overwhelming evidence and support its call for Nestlé to commit to shift its sales towards more healthier products.”
The resolution was filed by five Nestlé shareholders, including one of Europe’s largest investment managers, Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM). Nestlé’s AGM will take place in Switzerland on the 18th of April.
Notes to editors
The full text and signatories to the letter below:
In two weeks’ time every shareholder of the world’s largest food manufacturer, Nestlé, will have the opportunity to vote on a resolution that could have a profound impact on global public health.
Multinational food companies have a huge influence on diets through their recipes and marketing. The resolution calls on Nestlé to commit to increasing the proportion of healthier foods it sells – and thus reduce its negative impact on public health. Other companies have made similar commitments, such as Danone, Unilever and Tesco. Nestlé’s present business model currently relies too heavily on unhealthy food sales – a recent peer-reviewed study in seven major global markets found that 75% of its sales come from unhealthy foods.
There is a human cost to failing to adapt the current business model. Around one in eight people globally are living with obesity, including millions of children. Unhealthy diets are a major factor causing excess calorie consumption leading to obesity, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Last month, the UK Government reported that obesity cost the NHS an estimated £6.5 billion a year and is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer. The broader economic cost has been estimated at £34bn. It showed that over a quarter of adults are living with obesity, placing huge pressure on the healthcare system.
As these worrying trends worsen, governments around the world will be increasingly likely to implement further taxes and regulations on unhealthy food. Companies that want to be successful in the long-term should ensure they don’t rely too heavily on unhealthy products and heed the growing consumer demand for healthier food, which will help deliver better health outcomes globally.
That is why we are urging shareholders in Nestlé to support the resolution later this month and ensure the company plays its part in helping to shape healthier societies across the world.
SIGNATORIES
Lord Bethell
Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, Member of the House of Lords
Lord Krebs
Former Chair of Food Standards Agency, Member of the House of Lords
Dr Alison Tedstone MBE
Chair of the Association of Nutrition and former Chief Nutritionist at Public Health England
Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE
CEO of The Health Foundation
Thomasina Miers OBE
Cook, writer and restaurateur, Co-founder of Wahaca
Kieron Boyle
Chair of Long-term Investors in People’s Health
Ravi Gurumurthy
CEO of Nesta
Anne Longfield CBE
Former Children's Commissioner, Chair BiteBack & Executive Chair Centre for Young Lives
Anna Taylor
Executive Director of Food Foundation, Chief Independent Advisor to the National Food Strategy
