Safe food that supports wellbeing  

At HKFoods, healthy products are a central part of our responsibility work, and as a large company, our products also have an impact on public health. We are committed to offering consumers and our customers high-quality, tasty, easy-to-use, wellbeing-promoting, and safe products. We systematically reduce, the amount of salt in our products and improve the quality of fats, among other things.

We represent food democracy

The two pillars of a healthy diet are versatility and moderation. For us, meat and plant-based food have always been in harmony around the same table and will be so even stronger in the future. 

We make our products using trusted raw materials, just like the founders of HKFoods more than a hundred years ago. We use locally produced meat that is produced in a way that ensures the welfare of animals.

Meat and meat products are part of a diverse and balanced diet as meat is a natural source of good nutrients. Eating meat in line with the nutrional recommendations is good for your health. Even a small amount of meat ensures the sufficient intake of nutrients and vitamins. Meat is an excellent source of protein, in terms of both quantity and quality. Meat contains all the essential amino acids your body cannot make itself.

Meat goes well with a healthy diet

Meat fits into a healthy diet as long as it is accompanied by vegetables. Domestic meat is also a good choice from a sustainability perspective.

Our long-term work to develop the healthiness of our products is based on nutritional guidelines. Many of our products have been recognised for their healthiness: The Heart Symbol in Finland. 

The cornerstones of healthy and balanced cooking — for both professionals and home cooks — are variety and moderation. The key is to choose high‑quality ingredients, and this is where the Heart Symbol in Finland serves as a reliable guide. The label indicates that the product is a healthier choice within its category.

For meat to earn the Heart Symbol, its fat content must be moderate. In seasoned and cooked meats, the salt content must also be sufficiently low and the fat quality soft.

Flavoured Salt innovation supports heart‑friendly choices

HKFoods has developed the Flavoured Salt innovation, which contains no sodium and consists of potassium chloride and flavourings. By replacing part of the salt with Flavoured Salt, it has been possible to reduce the salt content in several HK® and Kariniemen® products while retaining the familiar taste. The first renewed products were launched in January 2025. With the introduction of Flavoured salt, the number of HKFoods’ Heart Symbol products has further increased, and there are now over 200 Heart Symbol products in the selections. In 2025, Flavoured salt innovation received an honorary mention in the Food Innovation of the Year competition for making everyday life healthier in an accessible way.

In our communication aimed at consumers, we also encourage a diverse diet. All our product packages include nutrition labels. With the help of the nutritional calculations of our recipes, consumers can make food choices that best suit their dietary needs.

HEALTHY DIET IS BASED ON BALANCED AND DIVERSE CHOICES

 When developing healthy alternatives, our emphasis is on the following:

• Renewing products to be healthier, e.g. reducing salt, improving quality of fat and removing allergens
• National criteria for healthy food, e.g. the Heart Symbol 
• Use of Flavoured Salt innovation in selected HK® and Kariniemen® products  
• Removal or reduction of additives, e.g. nitrate and phosphate
• Smaller-than-normal pack sizes that help with portion size thinking and reduce food waste
• Adding vegetables or other ingredients in meat products and development of plant-based protein products
• Healthy diet education and tips on packaging, e.g. a reminder of a varied diet, healthy recipes and a plate model
• Nutritional value calculation in recipes

Responsibility programme  2026–2028 targets