Nestle CEO defends packaged food ahead of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmation
Tweet
Share
E-mail
FILE PHOTO: Boxes of Buitoni frozen pizzas, part of food giant Nestle's portfolio, are seen at the company’s headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, February 21, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
By Richa Naidu
LONDON (Reuters) - Packaged food provides safe, quality nutrition for people and reduces waste, Nestle's CEO said on Thursday, defending his company's products when asked how he would navigate incoming U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of packaged food.
The U.S. Senate advanced President Donald Trump's nomination of Kennedy to head the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, setting up a likely vote on awarding him the position in coming days.
If confirmed, as expected, by the Republican-controlled Senate, Kennedy, 71, would head the nation's top health agency that oversees agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During his own presidential campaign, Kennedy said he wanted to "Make America Healthy Again" and called out Kellogg's Fruit Loops cereal in an interview in November.
Nestle is the world's biggest packaged foods group with products ranging from KitKat snacks and Nescafe coffee to Maggi noodles and Purina pet foods.
"The US is very, very important to us, and we are monitoring the situation," CEO Laurent Freixe said when asked if anyone at Nestle had spoken recently with Kennedy.
"Packaged foods are very, very important for mankind," he added. "They have brought safe foods to many. They preserve the quality of the food. They allow us to fight food waste."
Freixe, who was speaking after the company reported slightly better-than-forecast annual sales growth, said food insecurity and food-borne diseases would be more prevalent than they are today if not for packaged food.
He noted, however, that Nestle shared Kennedy's focus on nutrition and health.
"This is our goal as well. We are all for good diets, diverse diets and nutrient-rich diets," Freixe said.
(Reporting by Richa Naidu; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Euro zone factory growth at more than four-year high in August, PMI shows
- Iran says it has enough foreign currency despite US sanctions
- Norway's new king to swear oath before parliament after Harald's death
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersRelated Entities
Donald J. Trump, FDASign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
