The End Of The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation - What's Next?
- Amy Neilson
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The End Of The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation - What's Next?
The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation shut it's doors in April 2025.
Which I reckon is quite a relief. Does this signify a shift in what has been shaping New Zealanders bodies for 45 years?
So...The End Of The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation. What's next?
Who Was Really Shaping New Zealand’s Nutrition Advice?
I should preface this by saying I’m no conspiracy theorist—but I do find it increasingly hard to ignore the disconnect between New Zealand’s worsening rates of obesity, mental illness, and metabolic disease… and the stagnant, outdated nutritional guidelines we've continued to be served.
The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation (NZNF)—once seen as a trustworthy source for nutritional education—recently announced it will be closing its doors after 45 years.
Officially, the reason is a lack of funding. But it also raises a bigger question: is this the end of over-institutionalised nutrition advice backed by big corporations?
For years, the NZNF positioned itself as an independent voice in nutrition. But a closer look at its corporate partners paints a more complicated picture. Among its most recent supporters were:
Nestlé
Fonterra Brands
Sanitarium
George Weston Foods
Coca-Cola (previously affiliated)
Chelsea Sugar / NZ Sugar Company
United Fresh / 5+ A Day Charitable Trust
It’s not hard to see the conflict.
These are companies whose profits often come from selling ultra-processed foods, sugary cereals, flavoured yoghurts, or fortified grain products
For example, the guidelines historically underemphasise protein—despite mounting global evidence highlighting its critical role in metabolic health, muscle retention, fat loss, and mental clarity.
At the same time, they heavily promote processed breakfast cereals, biscuits, and grain-based products—some of which are manufactured by the very companies funding the foundation, such as Sanitarium.
So it begs the question: how unbiased can nutrition advice really be when it's supported by the same organisations profiting from highly processed foods?
Modern research consistently recommends higher protein intake—especially for women, older adults, and those trying to manage blood sugar or body composition. Yet these needs are often glossed over in favour of low-fat, high-carb messaging that props up industrialised food systems.
This is not about demonising individual foods. It’s about transparency. About integrity. And about asking whether the advice given to the public is based on science—or on sponsorship.
With the NZ Nutrition Foundation closing, perhaps it’s time for a new approach. One grounded in unbiased, independently funded science. One that gives people real tools to feel better in their bodies—not just recommendations that tick boxes for corporate backers.
Could this be the turning point? The end of institutionalised nutrition advice controlled by food giants—and the beginning of something more honest?
Get in touch on Facebook or Instagram at @amysfitnessandnutrition, drop me a message to 0272 650 350, or check out more at amysfitnessandnutrition.co.nz.
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