Nestlé is lobbying US authorities to allow food manufacturers to use simpler, more familiar ingredient names on product labels, arguing that technical scientific terms are fuelling consumer concerns over processed foods despite many of the ingredients being natural or widely recognised as safe.
The Swiss food giant, maker of Nescafé coffee and KitKat chocolate, has urged regulators to permit common names such as “vitamin C” instead of “ascorbic acid” and “vitamin A” instead of “beta-carotene” on packaging, according to a former senior Nestlé executive familiar with the discussions.
“Sometimes the way we have to describe ingredients in the US makes it sound like Frankenstein food,” the former executive told Reuters.
“In reality, it’s actually a natural ingredient that consumers have a natural word for.”
The former executive, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said Nestlé had raised the issue directly with officials in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s team as the administration reviews food-labelling policies under its “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
The lobbying effort has not previously been reported.
Current US labelling regulations often require manufacturers to use technical ingredient names without explaining their purpose, a practice industry sources say discourages purchases and has, in some cases, prompted companies to reformulate products to remove ingredients consumers perceive as artificial.
By contrast, European food-labelling rules allow ingredient descriptions to reflect their intended use. For example, an ingredient may be labelled as “antioxidant (ascorbic acid),” “ascorbic acid (vitamin C),” or simply “vitamin C,” depending on its function in the product.
Consumer demand for simpler ingredient lists has grown steadily in recent years.
According to a report by Innova Market Insights, about three-quarters of North American consumers reconsider food purchases after reviewing ingredient labels, with most preferring products made with recognisable ingredients and easy-to-understand descriptions.
Responding to questions about the issue, a spokesperson for the US Department of Health and Human Services said, “We continue to engage with stakeholders across the food industry on ways to help Americans make informed decisions about the foods they purchase and consume.”
Nestlé Chief Technology Officer Stefan Palzer said the company is already working to simplify product formulations where possible.
“But it’s difficult,” Palzer said.
“We try to reduce ingredients that are not understood by consumers whenever possible, without compromising on the safety, quality or functionality of the product.”
He added that consumers worldwide increasingly favour products containing ingredients that appear familiar and carry labels they can easily understand.
Other food retailers have also responded to changing consumer preferences. German supermarket chain Aldi, for example, has been removing dozens of ingredients from products sold in its stores so shoppers “can feel good about adding to their carts.”
The former Nestlé executive said the company had discussed specific ingredients with US regulators as part of the wider government effort to eliminate artificial substances from foods, while seeking approval to simplify the names of ingredients it intends to retain.
Nestlé’s efforts reflect a broader campaign by the food industry to address growing public scepticism about ingredient lists.
Industry groups, including the Americans for Ingredient Transparency coalition and the International Food Additives Council, argue that highly technical ingredient names unfairly stigmatise products even when the ingredients are commonly used and approved by regulators.
The groups’ membership includes major global food companies such as Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Cargill, all of which have supported efforts to make ingredient labels easier for consumers to understand.
Boluwatife Enome
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