GLOBAL INDEX 2016

METHODOLOGY
Timing
Company assessments are conducted using data available at the conclusion of the
company research process. 7 Between research, assessment and publication of the
2016 Global Index it is possible that some companies may have adopted new policies
or implemented new approaches to addressing obesity and diet-related chronic
diseases and undernutrition. In addition, two companies merged in 2015, Heinz and
Kraft to become one company. Because the merger took place at the end of the
research phase and data used was based on FY2014, the two companies are ranked
separately in this Index. For the next edition of the Index they will be assessed as one
company.
Agenda for future development of ATNI
The ATNI Global Index will be published every two years. The third Global Index is
planned for publication in March 2018. The methodology will need to be continuously
updated for future indexes to ensure it remains in line with emerging consensus on good
corporate practices, new formal assessments, guidelines and policies issued by
authoritative international bodies like the WHO and Codex, and changes in the
expectations of all ATNI’s stakeholders. A reasonable comparability between 2018 and
2016, however, is expected as future changes should be more of an incremental nature.
During the consultations, a number of topics arose for which no consensus guidelines
on good practices currently exist and where developing greater agreement among
companies and other stakeholders around the world would be valuable and facilitate
benchmarking and monitoring of progress.
Key examples of areas where widely agreed guidelines are needed are as follows:
Nutrient Profiling. Other than the 2013 WHO (Europe) Nutrient Profiling System for
restricting marketing to children, there is no widely-agreed system to underpin
companies’ formulation of products to improve nutritional quality or healthfulness.
Comparisons between companies are difficult when they apply different methods to
measure the nutritional content of their products. Many different product profiling
systems have been suggested or are in use by individual companies, trade associations
or industry self-regulatory bodies or by government agencies.
Food and beverage marketing (advertising and promotion). Consensus
guidelines applicable to all consumers would be helpful. In particular, a stronger, uniform
set of global principles for marketing to children is needed. The existing pledges that
companies sign up for (EU Pledge, Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative
(CFBAI) and International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA), as well as other national
pledges) are inconsistent.
Front of Pack (FOP) labeling. Several different systems are developing around the
world and recommendations have been made for characteristics that would be most
helpful to consumers, e.g. a protocol that uses an interpretative format.
Formal guidelines on appropriate roles for companies’ in educating
consumers on healthy nutrition. Many companies develop and run their own
programs to encourage healthier diets and active lifestyles. Other stakeholders believe
that companies should not play an active or high profile role in such initiatives because
of the difficulty of separating these efforts from marketing. An international dialogue and
clear guidelines on this issue would aid progress.
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ACCESS TO NUTRITION INDEX GLOBAL INDEX 2016