Dive Brief:
- Nestle has announced ingredients changes to six brands under Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream as the company continues a multi-year plan to update ingredients lists in different product segments. Nationwide rollout for the updated products began last month.
- More than 100 products across the Edy's/Dreyer's, Häagen-Dazs, Outshine, Skinny Cow, Nestle Ice Cream, and Nestle Drumstick brands will be impacted. Changes vary from product to product but include removal of artificial colors and flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and GMO ingredients.
- Other ingredient changes include fresh milk from cows not treated with rBST, more real fruit or fruit juice, and lower levels of sugar, which Nestle reduced by an average of 11% for select products.
Dive Insight:
Nestle continues to make changes to the ingredients in various segments of its portfolio. In February 2015, the company announced the removal of artificial colors and flavors from its chocolate candy and in June said it would remove artificial flavorings from frozen pizzas. One change that will impact the entire portfolio is the company's switch to using only cage-free eggs by 2020, a trend sweeping across much of the industry.
Nestle's previous ingredients changes didn't include the removal of GMO ingredients, but it's no surprise that this one did. A handful of major manufacturers have announced they would label GMO ingredients across their portfolios, and several others have labeled or removed GMO ingredients from certain brands and products.
As the July 1 deadline for Vermont's mandatory labeling law draws nearer, it's almost certain the industry will see more companies either labeling GMO ingredients in their products or removing them altogether.