Obesity, defined as an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), affects 4 million people around the world, and a further 1.6 billion adults are overweight. The majority of these people also suffer from illnesses linked to this excess weight and a third of overweight people live in developing countries. Since the number of obese people is constantly rising around the world, Edenred is taking action by promoting a balanced diet in its affiliated restaurants, among its customers and users, but also its staff.

This commitment follows the signing of the European Charter on Counteracting Obesity by governments during the World Health Organization European Ministerial Conference, which took place in Istanbul in 2006, and the publication of Food at Work by the International Labour Organization, a study to which Edenred had contributed.

This study highlights the importance of nutrition for the health and productivity of employees and draws a comparative analysis of the different catering options available throughout a working day. It provides recommendations for governments, employers and unions, taking into consideration the economic and cultural constraints specific to each country. 

Alimentation & Equilibre (“nutrition & balance”) programme

In this context, and in addition to its meal vouchers, Edenred has developed a programme to raise awareness of the importance of a balanced diet. It constitutes an official public health campaign that is also being used as a means of prevention against the obesity epidemic. 

Since 2005, Edenred has been developing a nutritional programme with the aim of contributing to the improvement of balanced nutrition. This programme, called “Alimentation & Equilibre” and represented by the mascot Gustino, was created in partnership with expert nutritionists, local public stakeholders and catering representatives who ensure the validity of this initiative. The aim of this programme is to enable the users of Ticket Restaurant®, via affiliated restaurants, to easily identify meals that meet the criteria of a varied and balanced diet. The size of the network of restaurants affiliated to Ticket Restaurant®, combined with Edenred’s capacity to reach millions of consumers every day, is giving a real boost to balanced nutrition. This programme covers both the product supplied to and the education of consumers. In 2010, the Alimentation & Equilibre programme was being used in 13 countries.

To find out more about the Gustino programme

European FOOD project (Fighting Obesity through Offer and Demand)

Expanding on this commitment, in 2008 Edenred responded to an invitation for proposals from the European Commission as part of the second community action programme in the area of health launched by the Directorate General for SANCO (Health and Consumer Affairs) on the subject of counteracting obesity and inequalities of access to a balanced diet.

Everyone involved in the Consortium that was set up share a common interest: to promote balanced nutrition by taking action in the complementary channels of supply and demand, hence the project's name, FOOD: Fighting Obesity through Offer and Demand. Since 2009, and over two years, this project has succeeded in motivating more than 20 public and private partners to take action in 6 European countries: Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Sweden, and has implemented campaigns to raise awareness and communication with the target groups. 

To find out more about the FOOD programme:
The FOOD programme website

The FOOD blog
The Facebook page