Jan 10, 2014 01:17 PM EST
Food Companies Cut 6.4 Trillion Calories From Products; Promise Kept to First Lady Michelle Obama

America's biggest food companies have cut 6.4 trillion calories out of their products, which is more than four times what they promised about four years ago to first lady Michelle Obama and her cause to help decrease childhood obesity.

According to the Associated Press, the report funded by Robert Wood Johnson, a nonprofit group studied the pledge made by 16 food companies to remove one trillion calories from the market by 2012 and 1.5 trillion calories by 2015.

On May 2010, pledges were made by companies including General Mills, Campbell Soup, Kraft Food, Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Hershey's, Bumble Bee Foods LLC, ConAgra Foods, Hillshire Brands and Kellogg Company.

"It's extremely encouraging to hear that these leading companies appear to have substantially exceeded their calorie-reduction pledge," Dr. James S. Marks, senior vice president and director of the Health Group at RWJF, said in a press release. "They must sustain that reduction, as they've pledged to do, and other food companies should follow their lead to give Americans the lower-calorie foods and beverages they want."

According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the 16 participating companies sold 54 trillion calories in 2012, this is down from 60.4 trillion calories in 2007, which is equal to about 78 fewer calories per person per day. The AP reported that the companies have beat their promise by more than 400 percent.

Lisa Gable of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation told the Associated Press that the findings "exceeded our expectations."

Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, which launched in 2009, alongside a partnership with Healthier America, formed after PepsiCo CEO challenged food executives to sell healthier products.

"When you take 16 fierce competitors and give them a goal, it's amazing what the market can do," said Gable. "This is a very significant shift in the marketplace."

In order to cut calories some companies introduced products the industry called "better for you."  The Los Angeles Times reported that many products offer lower-calorie products, other repackaged in smaller portions, such as 100-calorie snack packs.

In the past seven years, Coca-Cola said it introduced more than 100 no-and low-calorie beverages, which is reportedly a third of its beverages. The company stated Thursday that they have changed labeling and "created smaller soda containers."

"We take seriously our commitment to help fight obesity. These efforts, and many others, are helping people make choices that let them lead happier, healthier lives," Coca-Cola said in a statement, according to the Times.

Indra Nooyi, chief executive of PepsiCo and chair of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, stated that its company is giving customers more opportunities to make Hal either choices.

"Our industry has an important role to play in helping people lead healthy lives and our actions are having a positive impact," Nooyi said. "We see continued opportunities to give consumers the choices they're looking for and to work collaboratively with the public and nonprofit sectors on initiatives that enable continued progress."

According to Jeff Levi, executive director of nonprofit advocacy group Trust for America's Health, people should not rely on the companies lowering their calorie count, to solve America's obesity problem.

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