Nestlé plans food and supplement products aimed at GLP-1 side effects
Nestlé is building products around GLP-1 side effects like muscle and facial fat loss, so patients may soon see more items marketed specifically to them on shelves [1].
Nestlé is developing food, supplement and skincare-adjacent products aimed at people taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, naming muscle loss, facial fat loss and nutrient gaps as the problems it intends to sell against [1]. The company's chief technology officer, Stefan Palzer, told Reuters that Nestlé is using artificial intelligence and other technology to analyze clinical research, identify nutrient combinations and formulate products tailored to GLP-1 users [1].
Around 16 million Americans are taking GLP-1 medicines, according to the Boston Consulting Group, and that figure is expected to rise sharply by the end of the decade [1]. The drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy from Novo Nordisk and medicines from Eli Lilly, have fueled investor concern that appetite suppression could permanently reduce demand for packaged food, snacks and beverages [1]. Nestlé is betting the same drugs create a market for products addressing the side effects of rapid weight loss, including muscle loss and the loss of facial fat, which can lead to a gaunt appearance often called "Ozempic face" [1]. "We are well-positioned with the portfolio. It's a huge opportunity for our company," Palzer said [1].
Some of that work is already on shelves. Nestlé's US business created the Boost Advanced Nutrition Shake, marketed as containing 35 grams of protein to support muscle health during weight loss, and in Asia and Australia the company introduced Milo Pro High Protein, a higher-protein version of its malt drink [1]. Nestlé has begun adding collagen to its Vital Proteins products to support skin, hair and nail health [1]. Palzer said the company found a combination of two micronutrients, which it industrialized, that stimulates the growth of muscle tissue. "On one hand, you provide protein; on the other hand, you stimulate the muscle tissue to grow back faster," he said [1]. He also said Nestlé had patented combinations of proprietary ingredients designed to reduce appetite among consumers who experience increased hunger after discontinuing GLP-1 treatment [1].
Behind the formulations is an AI pipeline. Nestlé has built internal systems to analyze scientific literature, simulate consumer behavior, identify emerging trends and help product developers search a database of roughly 120,000 recipes [1]. One internal platform, Food Genie, is used to predict how recipes might perform and to flag reformulation opportunities, Palzer said. "AI needs data," he said [1]. The company is also testing AI-driven consumer simulations meant to predict how shoppers respond to new products and health claims before they reach shelves, and it uses AI to monitor social media for signs of lasting trends [1].
Not everyone sees added value. Amanda Avery, an associate professor in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Nottingham in England, said it is "quite sad that we turn to new products all the time, [products which] are more expensive than whole, fresh food that also contains the same protein and nutrients" [1]. She noted that meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts and pulses remain relatively inexpensive sources of protein and nutrients [1]. Still, she said products marketed specifically to GLP-1 users are likely to find buyers: "Sadly, we are quite influenced by marketing. Nestlé will have done their research" [1].
Why it matters for patients
Muscle loss and nutrient gaps during rapid weight loss are the concerns Nestlé says it is formulating around, and those are the same concerns many patients hear about from clinicians and online [1]. The practical question is whether a packaged product does something a normal diet cannot. Avery argues it generally does not, since ordinary foods supply protein and the same nutrients at lower cost [1].
It has not been reported whether the two-micronutrient muscle combination has been tested in clinical trials in people taking GLP-1 drugs, whether it is safe to use alongside those medicines, or whether regulators have reviewed the claims tied to it [1]. Nothing in the report says these products treat or prevent a medical condition [1]. Prices, product forms and markets for the new GLP-1-targeted lines also have not been disclosed [1].
It is also worth noting what the products are aimed at. "Ozempic face" is a colloquial label for facial volume loss after rapid weight reduction, not a diagnosis, and appetite-stimulating ingredient patents are not the same as a product on sale [1].
What happens next
No launch dates, prices or markets for the new GLP-1-targeted lines have been disclosed [1]. Nestlé's existing Boost shake and Milo Pro are already sold [1]. Palzer said he expects AI's role in food development to grow: "Increasingly, AI will get into this field" [1]. The report also notes that rival ice-cream makers are moving toward higher-protein products, smaller portions and simpler ingredient lists, a sign the trend extends beyond one company; the rivals were not named [1].
Sources
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