KitKat owner Nestlé faces vote forcing it to cut back on unhealthy products

Nestlé faces a resolution at its AGM on Thursday that could force the world’s largest consumer goods company to cut back on high levels of salt, sugar and fats in its food and drinks.

The Swiss-headquartered multinational is urging investors to reject the proposal, arguing a move away from “indulgent products” could harm its “strategic freedom”.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) recently found that about 70% of Nestlé’s sales in the UK were of foods high in fat, salt and sugar.

In video message to shareholders, its chair, Paul Bulcke, said Nestlé had always been committed to helping consumers make informed choices as part of a balanced diet.

Howarth said: “Nestlé is the biggest food company in the world and has an enormous influence on billions of people’s diets and lives through the products it makes, advertises and sells to us.

“Any move away from sales of unhealthy products by Nestlé will inevitably support healthier communities all over the world and in the long term help economies, too.”