Transparency on our portfolio

Two years ago, Nestlé became the first company to use the Health Star Rating (HSR) system as the basis for transparently reporting nutritional values for our entire global portfolio. 

HSR is a well-known nutrient profiling system used on front-of-pack nutrition labels in some countries and applied by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI). HSR rates products on the total energy, saturated fat, sodium and sugar content, which can lower the score, as well as the amount of fiber, protein, fruit, vegetables, nuts and legumes (such as lentils), which can increase the score.

The nutritional value of our entire global portfolio

We highlight the nutritional value of four different groups of products:

 - Specialized nutrition products: Sold by our Nutrition and Nestlé Health Science (NHS) businesses, these products are tailored to the nutrition needs of specific populations. The HSR system generally does not apply to this category.

 - HSR of 3.5 or above: While keeping or even improving the nutritional profile with positive nutrients such as whole grains and vegetables, we aim to position these products as good options for balanced diets. - HSR of 1.5 to less than 3.5: Where we aim to improve the nutritional profile while providing portion guidance, recipes, tips and advice for balanced diets.

 - HSR of less than 1.5: We aim to help people enjoy these products as occasional treats eaten in moderation, in the context of a balanced diet.

Reporting nutritional values at market level

Our markets around the world have worked for years to improve the nutritional value of our products. For 2023, we are reporting on the nutritional value of local portfolios in 13 countries, using the local, government-endorsed nutrient profiling system. The figures may evolve as nutrient profiling systems evolve, and as we continue work to improve our portfolio. 

Each national and regional nutrient profiling system has distinct characteristics, with a different purpose and differences in the foods included, nutrient thresholds, and labels. Therefore, we report separately on each country as the figures for different countries cannot be compared. Details of each nutrient profiling system and how we applied it to our global and local portfolios are available in our Reporting Scope and Methodology for Nutritional Value Transparency Key Performance Indicators (pdf, 200Kb).