Dive Brief:
- The 16 food and beverage companies that answered a call from First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010 and promised to cut 1 trillion in calories from their products have met their goal and more.
- The companies promised to cut 1 trillion calories. Combined they have already slashed 6.4 trillion.
- Details on the cuts per company have not been released. But many major players signed on to the initiative, including Coca-Cola, ConAgra, PepsiCo, Kellogg, Hershey and Kraft.
Dive Insight:
Can you spot the problem here? Neither can we. Back in 2010 we were a little cynical about the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation pledge. We wanted to see a healthier America. And we wanted to see food companies work to remove the shocking amounts of salt and sugar and god-only-knows-what-else is on our food. But we were doubtful about the sincerity of the food companies and we were concerned about the amount of work required.
But our cynicism has collapsed in recent weeks as major food companies have released information about the staggering levels of change they have made in their formulations.
We offer our congratulations, and our thanks, to the 16 companies and to Michelle Obama.