Nestlé, University of California partner to research the microbiome; implements Nutri-Score on labels in Europe

To further increase the understanding of the microbiome’s impact on human health and to accelerate the development of innovative nutritional solutions promoting health and wellbeing, Nestlé has entered into a partnership with the University of California San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI). The partnership builds on the CMI’s world-class microbiome expertise, which complements Nestlé’s research capabilities on the connection between nutrition and the gut microbiome.

Over many years, Nestlé has studied the gut microbiome and its evolving composition throughout different life stages, from birth to aging, in humans and pets. This research has been translated into products that help maintain healthy digestion and wellbeing for different populations.

“The microbiome is an important research area for us,” said Isabelle Bureau-Franz, head of Nestlé Research. “In addition to the continuous development of our innovative products, we are investing in long-term research enabling us to provide the next generation of personalized nutritional solutions adapted to the individual’s microbiome.”

The partnership with CMI opens new opportunities for accelerating microbiome discoveries through joint research programs and access to scientific and technological capabilities complementing those already existing within the Nestlé research and development network. The partnership will also provide the opportunity to work with young talents in the frame of CMI’s PhD student and postdoctoral programs.

In other news, Nestlé has announced that it will use Nutri-Score nutrition labeling in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland, starting in the first half of 2020. The company will implement Nutri-Score across brands of its wholly owned businesses over a two-year period.

Cereal Partners Worldwide, the international breakfast venture between Nestlé and General Mills, will also implement Nutri-Score on its product packaging in the same countries.

In total, more than 5,000 products in the five countries will feature Nutri-Score.

Nutri-Score is a voluntary front-of-pack scheme that classifies foods and beverages according to their nutritional profile. It is a color-coded system with a scale ranging from A (healthier choices) to E (less healthy choices).

Nestlé and Cereal Partners Worldwide are beginning the roll-out of Nutri-Score in those European countries that already support the system. The two companies are ready to implement it in further countries that request it or notify it to the European Commission.

Nestlé brands on which Nutri-Score will appear include plant-based products from Garden Gourmet, Nesquik chocolate-flavored milk, Buitoni pizzas, Nescafé coffee, Maggi culinary products, and KitKat chocolate. Cereal Partners Worldwide will use Nutri-Score on its breakfast cereals, including Fitness and Chocapic.

Research partnership press release

Nutri-Score press release