Foodmakers cut trillions of calories from their products | Food and Environment Reporting Network

Sixteen major food and beverage companies sold 6.4 trillion fewer calories in 2012 than they did in 2007, says the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which paid for an independent evaluation of sales. The companies had pledged to cut 1 trillion calories by 2012 and 1.5 trillion calories by 2015. In total, the companies sold products containing 60.4 trillion calories in 2007.

“Having 16 companies make individual changes that collectively cut 6.4 trillion calories is beyond impressive,” said James Marks, senior vice president of the foundation in a statement. Companies in the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation include ConAgra, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft, Mars, Nestle, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Hershey and Unilever.

According to the evaluation, the largest reductions were in four areas – sweets and snacks; cereals, granolas and other grain products; fats, oils and dressings; and carbonated soft drinks.

Researchers will look into how the foodmakers’ pledge to reduce calories has affected packaged food and various consumer groups.

For a blog that explains the study, click here. To read the study, click here.