Arla achieves third place in global nutrition index

Arla once again demonstrates commitment to reducing environmental impact while continuing to provide affordable and nutritious food. The company has recently secured an impressive third place in the 2024 Global Access to Nutrition Index (ATNi), reflecting significant progress in promoting healthier diets and responsible business practices.

The ATNi 2024, now in its fifth edition, evaluates how 30 of the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturers address improved access to nutrition. Since Arla´s first inclusion in the index in 2016, the dairy cooperative has advanced from 14th place to third place in 2024. With an excellent score of 5.5 out of 10, Arla has demonstrated remarkable improvement in the nutritional profile of its product range, transparency in product labelling, and adherence to responsible marketing policies.

Since Arla´s first inclusion in the index in 2016, the dairy cooperative has advanced from 14th place to third place in 2024.

The ATNi evaluation particularly commends Arla for taking responsibility in its labelling practices, focusing on empowering consumers to make informed dietary choices. In this category, Arla achieved first place with a score of 7.9 out of 10.

Only a third of ranked food products deemed healthy
The ATNi rankings of 2024 highlights both progress and ongoing challenges within the food and beverage sector. While companies like Arla are demonstrating significant progress, just 31% of the 52,414 products analysed from the world’s largest producers met the Health Star Rating (HSR) threshold for ‘healthier’ products.

Furthermore, notable gaps remain, with healthier products being less accessible in lower-income regions compared to wealthier markets. Encouragingly, a growing number of companies are adopting internationally recognized nutrient profiling models to classify and improve the healthiness of their product ranges. The pace of change needs to be faster, indicating that substantial work is still required across the industry. And here in particular, Arla’s results can be a great example of how a company can set the standard for responsible engagement in improving access to nutritious foods.

Arla’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint while providing affordable, nutritious food highlights the company´s dedication to supporting healthier lifestyles and addressing global food security challenges. Arla´s strong performance is in line with the broader goals set out by the ATNi, which emphasises the need for increased commitments to healthier product ranges, responsible marketing regulations especially for children, and improved access to affordable, nutritious food, particularly in underserved regions. As diet-related health issues continue to affect billions worldwide, these efforts are crucial, underscoring the importance of sustained action from both businesses and policymakers to drive meaningful change.

Interested in more information about the Danish food cluster’s stronghold of health? Click here to read more about Denmark’s leadership toward healthier foods

Sources: Arla and ATNi Global Index 2024