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Kraft Heinz CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera's healthy lifestyle seems at odds with his company's processed products.
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Studies have linked the consumption of ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of health problems.
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But Abrams Rivera said the company is committed to offering healthier options to customers.
Kraft Heinz CEO Carlos Abrams Rivera takes his health seriously.
The executive recently told The Wall Street Journal that he does everything he can to stay fit and healthy, from practicing intermittent fasting and a predominantly Mediterranean diet to exercising six days a week. .
Although his strict regime may seem at odds with his day job of selling bulk processed foods around the world, his companies share the same health-based goals. he told the Journal.
Food giant Kraft Heinz aims to offer healthier products to customers and improve the nutritional value of some of its main products, such as ketchup, he said.
But the company has faced increased scrutiny for some of its recent moves.
Last year, Kraft Heinz made headlines when it was revealed that it had tweaked the ingredients in its Lunchables snacks to make them eligible for the National School Lunch Program, meaning they could be served directly to schools across the country.
Nutritionists were quick to express concern about the news, with Rachel Rothman, a San Diego-based pediatric nutritionist who specializes in picky eaters, previously telling Business Insider that the standard version of the snack was high in sodium and made with processed cheese. Told.
A study has found a link between eating ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of health problems, the medical journal BMJ reported.
But Abrams Rivera told the Journal that many of Kraft Heinz's products need to be processed to feed a growing population.
“You can't get perfect raw ingredients,” he added.
Nevertheless, the CEO said the company remains committed to cutting sodium and sugar from Kraft Heinz products, the paper reported.
But he added that the move will definitely take time: “This isn't going to take a year, this isn't going to be a flash in the pan. We have to take the consumer on this journey.”
This comes amid growing concerns about obesity levels.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. obesity rate was 41.9% from 2017 to March 2020, up from 30.5% from 1999 to 2000.
The prevalence of severe obesity also increased from 4.7% to 9.2% over the same period.
Read the original article on Business Insider