Reformulations

The nutritional reformulation strategy we follow prioritises foods that:

• are consumed mostly by children;
• contain high levels of salt, sugar, fat, saturated fat, and/or unnecessary additives;
• are highly consumed and, as such, their reformulation might have a material positive impact on public health;
• although they might be perceived as being healthy by the consumers, their nutritional profile needs to be adjusted;
• are low in fibre, vitamins and minerals;
• have ingredients that could potentially cause allergic reactions.

In 2023, the recipes of 37 food products were reformulated (including perishables). These reformulations prevented the consumption of 130.2 tonnes of sugar, 62.8 tonnes of fats (39.7 tonnes of fat and 23.1 tonnes of saturated fat) and 25.2 tonnes of salt.

Poland

Among the 11 reformulated Private Brand products, most noteworthy is the Madero mayonnaise, which saw its sugar content cut by 12% (representing 8 fewer tonnes consumed). Regarding salt, the beef gyozas now have 25% less salt (more than 10 tonnes avoided). Fat and saturated fat were cut in the Top cheese corn tortillas and salt corn tortillas, on average between 4% and 12% and between 29% and 43%, respectively.

In 2023, Biedronka fortified two breakfast cereals with fibre (the Vitanella chocolate flakes and honey flakes), amounting to a total of 47 tonnes of added fibre. These two cereals are now produced with less sugar (a reduction of between 2% and 7%, totalling 20.3 tonnes), and less salt (between 35% and 50%, totalling 6.9 tonnes).

Regarding perishables, the amount of meat in the Kraina Mięs Select sausage increased 13 p.p. (from 80% to 93%). All the additives used in their composition (such as oat and wheat fibre, aromas, vinegar powder, tapioca gum, as well as sulphur dioxide and sulphites from spices) were also removed. Soy lecithin was replaced with sunflower or rapeseed lecithin in the croissants with nuts and cocoa filling.

As regards clean labelling, and aimed at offering products with fewer additives, the flavour enhancer and preservatives were removed from the Marinero herring fillets in vegetable oil.

In non-food products, microplastics were removed from the green tea, sensitive and seaweed face masks, and from the nail varnish removers in the Be Beauty cosmetic range.

Portugal

In 2023, the recipes of 20 products were reformulated, in particular of the products that are very popular among children, such as the Pingo Doce and Amanhecer filled breakfast cereals and the Masterchef stars cereal, the Pingo Doce strawberry, biscuit and banana yoghurt, and the Pingo Doce sweet popcorn. Between 12% and 27% of the sugar content of these products was cut, avoiding the consumption of 36 tonnes. Around 6 tonnes of fibre were added to the aforementioned cereals (between 15% and 48% more than before).

Regarding salt, and among the five products reformulated (reductions of between 24% and 40%), the corn flakes cereals are particularly of note (the consumption of more than 2.3 tonnes of salt was avoided). In terms of saturated fat, the Amanhecer light mayonnaise and Pingo Doce mini pancakes are of note, with reductions of 29% and 77%, respectively.

Sulfite ammonia caramel (E150d), a natural colouring used in the Amanhecer oxtail soup, and the chicken soup flavour enhancer were also removed.

Progress on the commitments made by Pingo Doce under the Portuguese government’s Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (EIPAS) can be found on the Jerónimo Martins corporate website¹.

Colombia

The recipes of six Ara Private Brand products were reformulated to cut salt content, mostly from the Tojitos (crisps) and Camote (nachos) snacks, avoiding the consumption of 1.8 tonnes of salt. The flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate has also been removed from the lemon-flavoured and chicken-flavoured Tojitos crisps.

Zero artificial colourings and flavour enhancers

After removing artificial colourings from Pingo Doce Private Brands in 2022, and flavour enhancers from specialised perishables, a new ambition was achieved in 2023, with the elimination of flavour enhancers in private brand products and artificial colourings in perishables.

At Biedronka we have met the target of having at least 90% of Private Brand products without artificial colourings or flavour enhancers, recording a progress of 98% and 97% of the assortment, respectively. In the case of specialised perishables, bakery and pastry products, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, including both packaged and prepared products, were free of artificial colourings and flavour enhancers.

In Colombia, Private Brands achieved a ratio of 95% of products free of artificial colourings and 96% without flavour enhancers. In Ara’s specialised perishables (bakery and pastry products), 96% contained no artificial colourings and 100% no flavour enhancers).

¹ More information available at Our Commitments and Progress on our corporate website.