The NPS+ project aims to develop a new methodology to assess the micronutrient content of packaged foods and beverages in the context of addressing micronutrient deficiencies of public health importance. This two-year project with the formal title ‘OPP1199707 – Improving a nutrition profiling ranking system’ is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and runs until December 2020. The main project partners are The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia and the Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, UK.

ATNI objectively assesses the healthiness of companies’ product portfolios in the Product Profile, which is based on the Health Star Rating system. This system does not assess micronutrients such as iodine, iron, and vitamin A, which play an important role in micronutrient deficiencies, undernutrition and associated diseases in many low-income countries.

This project aims to define a new methodology that objectively assesses the micronutrient content of companies’ products aimed to address undernutrition in low-income countries and possibly in other geographies. If successful, this new methodology will be tested in upcoming ATNI Indexes. The availability of the tool would enable ATNI to more effectively influence food and beverage companies worldwide with the aim to improve the nutritional quality of commercial products that may help address undernutrition. Ultimately, this is expected to improve the sustainable availability of healthy and suitable products for undernourished consumers in low-income countries.

Contact: Mark Wijne, Senior Research Manager

mark.wijne@accesstonutrition.org