Access to Nutrition Initiative Global Index and Spotlight Index comparisons: promoting nation-led frameworks for nutrition accountability

Background Food and beverage companies significantly impact consumer health, creating recognized concerns regarding their impact on both food quality and the food environment. While these companies have proposed voluntary corporate commitments to address these concerns, such commitments have been widely critiqued for lacking enforcement mechanisms and potentially forestalling binding regulation. Non-governmental benchmarking frameworks have therefore emerged to assess corporate nutrition practices in a more structured and transparent manner. Objective of the study This study systematically analyzes the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) Global and Spotlight Indices across all published editions to document their structural evolution and inform context-sensitive framework development in countries lacking a Spotlight Index. Methods A comparative document analysis was conducted using publicly accessible ATNi documents. Editions adopting an identical seven-domain evaluation framework include: the Global Index (2013, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2024) and Spotlight Indices for the US (2018, 2022) and India (2016, 2020, 2023). Index structure, category weights, Nutrient Profile Models (NPMs), and scoring methodologies were systematically extracted and compared. Results The Global Index evaluates multinational companies on nutrition improvement and responsible conduct, with core criteria including NPM-assessed product portfolios, front-of-pack labeling, and workforce nutrition-related issues. The weight of NPM-based portfolio assessment increased progressively from 25% (2013) to 45% (2024), reflecting a strategic reorientation. The Spotlight Index adapts this model for domestic markets by integrating country-specific indicators and regulatory frameworks. Conclusions The ATNi indices represent a significant corporate accountability effort; however, their effectiveness could be further advanced by increased voluntary participation, provision of data, and incorporation into company goals. The growing emphasis on NPM-based evaluation strengthens empirical credibility, but may need to be reviewed constantly to capture the breadth of accountability. Developing context-sensitive Spotlight Indices in countries with distinct dietary cultures may enhance domestic food environments, provided frameworks are co-designed with local institutions and complemented by regulatory oversight.