By Mike Esterl 

PepsiCo Inc. is doubling down on its health push, announcing new targets Monday to reduce sugar, salt and fat in its beverages and snacks by 2025.

The new goals by the maker of Lay's potato chips, Gatorade sports drinks and Quaker oatmeal coincide with global concerns about rising obesity, including growing calls in many countries to tax or curb sugar consumption.

PepsiCo is one of several large food and beverage companies, including Nestlé SA and Coca-Cola Co., that have been moving to overhaul their portfolio and offer healthier products amid shifting consumer tastes even as many shoppers continue stocking up on longtime staples like candy, salty snacks and sugary sodas.

PepsiCo said Monday it aims for at least two-thirds of its global beverage volume to have no more than 100 calories per 12 ounces from added sugars by 2025, up from about 40% currently. A 12-ounce can of regular Pepsi-Cola, the company's namesake soda, has 150 calories.

The company also set the goal that at least three-quarters of its food volumes not exceed 1.3 grams of sodium per calorie and 1.1 grams of saturated fat per 100 calories by 2025. About half of volumes currently meet the sodium target, said a company spokesman, who didn't have a comparable figure for saturated fat.

The new goals replace 2020 targets that PepsiCo set in 2009. Added sugars rose 4% between 2006 and 2015, compared with the company's 25% reduction target for 2020. PepsiCo has cut sodium by 12% and saturated fat by 3% over the same period. It said in 2009 it wanted to cut sodium and saturated fat by 25% and 15%, respectively.

The company said nearly 25% of its revenue last year came from "everyday nutrition" products with positive nutrition like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein and hydration.

"PepsiCo's journey is far from complete, and our new goals are designed to build on our progress and broaden our efforts," Chairman and Chief Executive Indra Nooyi said in a statement.

The company also issued new environmental targets for 2025, including improving water-use efficiency in its manufacturing by 25% and reducing food waste in its operations by 50%. It also aims to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 20% by 2030, among other goals.

Write to Mike Esterl at mike.esterl@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 17, 2016 13:03 ET (17:03 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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