The move comes as food companies are facing mounting pressure to offer healthier products
Consumer goods major Nestle is planning to remove artificial food colourings from its products globally by the end of the current year, Reuters reported. The company has already eliminated artificial colourings from its portfolio in the United States.
The initiative is driven by consumer demand for healthier options. The report also added that food companies are facing mounting pressure to offer healthier products amid the rapid increase of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
Nestle’s technology chief Stefan Palzer told Reuters that the company has invested heavily in research and development to find natural alternatives, aiming for simpler recipes that make it relevant for the consumers who are looking for healthier options. Retailers and food manufacturers are now eliminating ingredients like FD&C synthetic dyes and sweeteners from their products.
Maggi Controversy
Last month, Nestle India denied allegations of insect infestation in a packet of Maggi noodles after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sought clarification following complaints shared on social media.
The company said internal investigations and laboratory testing found no signs of contamination in the concerned batch or in samples collected from the market. Nestle India added that it has submitted manufacturing records, quality-control data and laboratory findings to the regulator as part of its response.
“We categorically reject the allegations circulating on media basis an unverified account regarding the presence of infestation, allegedly on Maggi noodles,” a Nestle India spokesperson said in a statement.
The company also said it has not yet received the product sample linked to the complaint.”We are yet to receive the complaint sample from the complainant as the account is unreachable,” the statement added.
The issue gained attention after social media posts allegedly showed larvae inside a Maggi noodles packet, prompting regulatory scrutiny.
