Hindustan Unilever, Nestle ranked first in nutrition index

ATNI report is published once in every three years and this is the second edition of India Spotlight Index. India was selected as a spotlight country as it has a rapidly developing food and beverage sector, a statement said.

The initiative is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the governments of the UK and the Netherlands.

This season, 16 largest companies in India's food and beverage sector were assessed with the aim to encourage these companies to improve their nutrition practices, it added.

The other companies were Amul, Mondelez India, Mother Dairy, Parle Products, AAVIN, Adani Wilmar, Emami Agrotech, Hatsun Agro Product, ITC, Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Nandini) and Marico Limited.

"ATNI sees food and beverage companies in India showing their commitment to providing healthy food and engaging in a dialogue on how to support India's Eat Right Movement," ATNI Executive Director Inge Kauer said.

Lifestyle changes in India have caused a shift in consumer habits -- from the consumption of traditional food to more urban food habits consisting of packaged and processed foods, high in sugar, fat and salt.

"In fact, India is among the top 10 consumers of fast food in the world. This, coupled with the fact that India is set to become the third largest consumer economy, presents an enormous opportunity for food and beverage companies to make nutrition a core part of their business plans, and to adopt comprehensive, public and commercial strategies to address issues related to the double burden of malnutrition in India," she said.