Dive Brief:
- Today, Dannon Co. is to announce that it will make yogurt products more conducive to current health guidelines by enhancing their nutrients and reducing their sugar and fat by 2016.
- Dannon's commitment to make these changes makes it the latest company to join Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative.
- Dannon is to make its announcement at the Partnership for a Healthier America summit in Washington where Mrs. Obama, the group's honorary chairwoman, will speak.
Dive Insight:
Dannon, the U.S. unit of France's Danone SA, is one of the top-selling yogurt brands in America. Joining the national campaign is making a virtue out of necessity, in light of the fact that the FDA's proposed new labels will be highlighting facts like added sugar and essential nutrients.
Dannon is committing to changing its product line by 2016 so that 70% of its products contain 23 grams or less of sugar per 6-ounce serving. That's not a great jump, though, considering that already 63% of its products meet that standard. The real challenge will be in meeting its commitment to make all of the products marketed to children meet that standard. At present, only 30% of them do, and Dannon has committed to achieving 100% by 2016. But the company has the motive to pull it off.