Smithfield Foods, a US-based pork producer and food-processing company, is aiming to lower sugar and sodium levels by 10% across its product portfolio and embrace clean labelling by 2025.

The move is reportedly part of the company’s new standalone Health and Wellness pillar and expanded sustainability programme and commitment to continuous product improvement.

Smithfield said that it regularly assesses the ingredients in its products to meet different consumer diets, preferences, and lifestyles.

To meet the sodium and sugar reduction target, the company said that it will focus on innovations and adaptation of its formulas to preserve taste, safety and quality.

The move complements the company’s existing product portfolio in the US, which provide nutritional benefits and simplified ingredients with no artificial ingredients, nitrates, preservatives, or monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Smithfield Foods chief sustainability officer Stewart Leeth said: “At Smithfield, we are constantly innovating to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers who are increasingly seeking out foods with improved nutrition profiles and clean, transparent labelling.

“We understand the importance of continually evolving our operational practices and sustainability programme to support these ends.

“Our addition of Health and Wellness as a sustainability pillar underscores our ongoing commitment to lead the industry in providing transparency and nourishing, high-quality protein products.”

Smithfield also announced that it will increase label transparency and reduce the complexity of product labels by shortening ingredient statements and incorporate cleaner labelling across its products by 2025.

As part of this initiative, the company announced that it will remove conventional ingredients unfamiliar to the average consumer in favour of natural ingredients produced from vinegar, celery juice and cherry powder.

In August 2019, Smithfield Foods unveiled its plans to expand its product range with the launch of a plant-based protein portfolio under the company’s Pure Farmland brand.