Danone Southern Africa has been ranked first in a national public assessment evaluating voluntary industry commitments to healthier food environments.
The assessment, conducted by the University of Cape Town in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council and other institutions, reviewed 29 leading food and beverage companies using the globally recognised INFORMAS Business Impact Assessment (BIA) Obesity tool. Danone achieved a score of 83 out of 100, the highest of all participating companies — reflecting the strength of its nutrition policies and its mission to deliver health through food to as many people as possible, says Danone.
With South Africa facing a persistent double burden of malnutrition — marked by high levels of undernutrition in children under five and rising rates of overweight and obesity — the role of the food and beverage sector in supporting national health priorities has never been more urgent, adds Danone.
The report underscores the need for priority actions from industry to help shift South Africa towards healthier food environments. These include product reformulation to reduce sodium, saturated fat, trans-fat and sugar; providing clear and accessible nutrition labelling; and ensuring that nutritious choices are both widely available and affordable. In a country where many families face the daily challenge of "nutrition versus affordability", the sector has a critical responsibility to help close this gap, says Danone.
Danone ranked number one in the domains of Product Formulation, Nutrition Labelling and Product Accessibility, demonstrating a concrete commitment to expanding the availability and affordability of healthier options, adds Danone.
"Our mission speaks not only to the nutritional quality of our products, but also to their reach, ensuring we deliver accessible nutrition through everyday dairy foods, available in every store," says Leanne Kiezer, Registered Dietitian and Head of Public Affairs at Danone Southern Africa.
Kiezer expressed appreciation for the inclusion of Danone in the assessment, "While we are grateful for this encouraging feedback, we also value the opportunity to identify areas for further improvement. This process supports our continued efforts to strengthen our health and nutrition agenda."
The Danone Impact Journey provides a clear and practical roadmap for contributing to healthier food environments. "Together with our partners, we remain committed to building a more resilient, health-oriented food system for South Africa's future," concludes Kiezer.
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*Image courtesy of contributor