An Expert Looks at Vital Pursuit, Nestle's Ozempic Geared Food

Nestle's new Vital Pursuit meals are tailored to meet the needs of people using Ozempic or other GLP-1s for weight loss. However, one expert says their nutritional value may be lacking in some areas.

On September 18, Nestle's new Vital Pursuit brand of food products, intended for people taking glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) like Ozempic, hit store shelves nationwide. The products are designed to accommodate GLP-1 users' decreased appetite and desire for smaller portions, which is a primary effect of these weight loss/diabetes drugs.

Since eating less can mean consuming fewer vitamins and less protein, especially if the foods chosen are not nutrient-dense, people taking semaglutide-based medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound may experience gaps in nutrition.

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"People taking these medications not only have a decreased appetite, but they must adjust their diets with a sharper focus on smaller portions while also prioritizing beneficial nutrients for their health," said Marlene Schmidt, Registered Dietitian and Senior Health & Wellness Manager at Nestlé, in a news release. "To complement these eating habits, we're striving to take the guesswork out of mealtime with thoughtfully portioned, nutritious, accessible options."

The products, which include pizza, food bowls, and sandwiches, claim to contain at least 20 grams of protein and essential nutrients like protein, vitamin A, potassium, and calcium. However, since these products are considered pre-packaged, processed food, some may be concerned about whether they are actually healthy.

Are Vital Pursuit meals nutritious?

Dietary guidelines in the United States recommend limiting saturated fat intake to 10% of total daily calories, which equals around 20 grams of saturated fat in a standard 2,000-calorie diet.

According to Sandra Vigelienė, BSc, a Health Content Researcher at Healthnews, all of Nestle's Vital Pursuit meals are high in saturated fat.

Most Vital Pursuit meals contain 7 to 13 grams of saturated fat per serving. Comparing the saturated fat content with the dietary guidelines, just one meal from Vital Pursuit can provide around half of the daily saturated fat intake in a standard 2000 kcal diet.

Vigelienė

Guidelines also suggest that individuals limit or avoid trans fatty acids as much as possible, as research shows that they can increase bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower good (HDL) cholesterol levels.

After examining Vital Pursuit products, Vigelienė found that most of the meals from all three categories do not contain trans fats. However, specific meals, including three pizza products, the Southwest Style Beef Taco Bowl, and the Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Broccoli Bowl, contain between 0.5 and 1 gram of trans fats per serving.

vital pursuit products
Image courtesy of Vital Pursuit
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Vital Pursuit and sodium content

When choosing food products, it's important to take note of sodium levels, as excessive salt consumption is linked to several health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke.

Moreover, dietary guidelines recommend that healthy adults of all ages limit sodium intake to 2,300 mg daily.

Vigelienė's investigation revealed that all Vital Pursuit meals contain high sodium, ranging from 650 to 940 mg per serving — roughly 30 to 38% of the sodium intake limits in a standard 2,000-calorie diet.

"This percentage represents a relatively high portion of sodium in just one meal," Vigelienė explains. "Given that most dietary patterns include several meals and snacks throughout the day, adding such meals to the daily food routine may make it challenging for some people to stay within the sodium limit recommendations."

Still, the sodium content in Nestle's Ozempic-geared meals is comparable to that of similar products. For example, Vital Pursuit pepperoni pizza contains 930 mg of sodium per serving. However, other pizzas listed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food database contain around 700-1000 mg of sodium per serving.

Sugar levels may not be a concern, but fiber is lacking

Consuming too much sugar can have negative health implications. For example, excessive sugar intake has been linked to type 2 diabetes, cancer, and obesity.

U.S. dietary guidelines suggest limiting added sugar to 10% of the total daily calorie intake, which is around 12 teaspoons (50 grams) for a person following a standard 2,000-calorie diet.

Vigelienė found that while most of the Vital Pursuit meal options do not have added sugar, some meals, like Chicken Bacon Ranch Piada, three-cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, three-meat pizza, and Grilled Chicken Chipotle Bowl, have 2 grams (roughly half a teaspoon) per serving.

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Moreover, Nestle's products have sugar levels similar to those of other products in this food category.

Fiber is another critical dietary component for overall health. Research suggests that maintaining an adequate fiber intake may help reduce the risk of obesity, cancer, and diabetes.

Guidelines note that the daily fiber intake for people consuming around 2,000 calories per day should be 28 to 31 grams. However, Vital Pursuit meals have between 3 and 6 grams of fiber per serving, which is considered low.

So, people taking GLP-1s who rely on these products for their daily calorie intake may have difficulty reaching the recommended fiber levels.

Protein levels look promising

Protein is an essential nutrient and the building block of several critical body functions. Overall, dietary recommendations suggest that protein should account for around 30 to 35% of daily calories, which is around 46 grams per day for someone consuming a 2,000-calorie diet.

According to Vigelienė, all Vital Pursuit meals are high in protein, ranging from 21 to 24 grams per serving.

"All of the suggested meal options can be considered moderate and even high depending on the specific dietary needs," Vigelienė adds. "For example, compared to the standard 2000 kcal diet, the protein intake from one of Vital Pursuit meals can reach up to 50% of the daily recommended protein intake."

The bottom line on Vital Pursuit

Despite having plentiful protein levels, people who choose Nestle's new meals to support their weight loss journey may want to ensure they get enough vitamins and minerals from other sources.

Vigelienė says that compared to recommended daily intakes, Vital Pursuit nutrition labels show low levels of calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamin D. However, some meals contain moderate levels of vitamins A and C.

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Apart from vitamin A and vitamin C, Vital Pursuit meals do not meaningfully contribute to the daily intake of vitamins and minerals, which is especially important to take into account if these meals are used as the main meals per day.

Vigelienė

Overall, Nestle's new GLP-1 tailored meals may be a convenient option for some people taking Ozempic or similar medications for weight loss. Since they contain a significant amount of protein, they could help ensure a person with a limited appetite gets adequate amounts of this vital nutrient.

However, Vital Pursuit's high saturated fat and sodium content paired with low dietary fiber levels may offset the product's protein-related benefits, especially for individuals who choose to rely on these meals to meet their daily calorie needs.

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