Major Food and Beverage Companies Remove 6.4 Trillion Calories from U.S. Marketplace

Sixteen of the nation's leading food and beverage companies sold 6.4 trillion fewer calories in the United States in 2012 than they did in 2007, according to the findings of an independent evaluation funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

PepsiCo is among the companies (see infographic below), acting together as part of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), that have exceeded their 2015 pledge to cut 1.5 trillion calories by more than 400 percent.

This 6.4 trillion calorie decline translates into a reduction of 78 calories per person in the United States per day. This is the first effort to track all the calories sold by such major companies in the American marketplace.  

"When you take 16 fierce competitors and give them a goal, it's amazing what the market can do," said Lisa Gable, president of HWCF.

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, HWCF Chair, said, "Our industry has an important role to play in helping people lead healthy lives and our actions are having a positive impact. We see continued opportunities to give consumers the choices they're looking for and to work collaboratively with the public and non-profit sectors on initiatives that enable continued progress."

PepsiCo has consistently delivered on Performance with Purpose, transforming its product portfolio in ways that offer consumers a wide range of choices with lower fat content, less sugar and more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Research has shown that, between 2007 and 2011, better-for-you, lower-calorie foods and beverages also drove financial performance for many of these same companies.

As one of its founding members, PepsiCo has an established relationship with the HWCF. In 2010, PepsiCo joined other food and beverage companies in the pledge, and in 2009 the PepsiCo Foundation made a two-year commitment of $2.5 million to the HWCF to increase understanding and opportunities for physical activity and nutrition education.

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