Nestle Reduces Salt Content in Maggi to Battle High BP

By Dipo Olowookere

Makers of the popular Maggi seasoning, Nestle, have revealed plans reduce the salt content in the product in order to make it appealing to more people.

Also, the company will fortify some of its ingredients to meet more cooking standards and make the commodity healthier for consumers.

These changes, according to a statement issued by the Business Executive Officer Culinary for Nestlé Central and West Africa, Mr Dominique Allier, would be targeted at consumers at the Nestlé’s Central and West Africa Region (CWAR).

Mr Allier explained that the reduction in the salt content of Maggi will contribute to help people in their efforts towards reducing their salt intake and meeting WHO recommendations on reducing risks associated with high blood pressure.

He added that going forward, the firm will use more familiar and common ingredients to produce the seasoning, which is very popular in Nigeria.

“Consumer expectations are changing. They want products with common ingredients they know, minimal processing, natural or organic and ideally locally produced. Our company has a role to play in contributing to the needs of the society.

“To do so, Maggi is reorganising its supply chain to privilege local sourcing of ingredients,” Mr Allier said in the statement.

He added that, “A careful selection of each ingredient will uphold the quality of Maggi products and meet the homemade cooking standards of our consumers around the world.

“In Central and West Africa Region, 100 percent of Maggi products will be made with more common and familiar ingredients that consumers love and will be adapted to local tastes and food cultures.

“Micro-nutrients fortification in the Maggi range will also be strengthened; fortification is a means Maggi uses to help prevent malnutrition in countries where daily consumption of essential micro-nutrients is lacking.

“In addition to iron fortification, the company will continue to improve the nutritional profile of its products, reducing the salt content in its Maggi tablets and cubes in the region by two.

“This will contribute to help people in their efforts towards reducing their salt intake and meeting WHO recommendations on reducing risks associated with high blood pressure.”

According to him, in 2016, Nestlé provided 65 billion of fortified servings in CWAR, out of which Maggi delivered over 100 million iron fortified cubes daily to 78 million households in CWAR.

Mr Allier stated further that, “In the Central and West Africa region, we will engage with 50 million women in nutrition related activities directly via in-person and social media channels.

“Maggi will create more value for the society and environment by reducing the weight of Maggi wrappers by 13 percent in the region; this will represent around 300 reduction of packaging material by 2020.

“The work done with the 300,000 ‘mammies’ (Maggi-sellers) in Central and West Africa will continue around the support through micro-enterprise management and access to health through vaccination programs.

“The company will enrol 30.000 cassava and soya farmers in its training program and enable the local sourcing of 100 per cent of its needs in soya beans and cassava flour.

“We are driven by our purpose to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future.

“The Maggi brand is a key lever to achieve our ambition through strong and bold commitments we have made in Central and West Africa Region.”