Profits for purpose

Sanitarium Health Food Company was registered as Australia’s first health food company in April 1898. It was established as part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia to promote and produce health foods based on its belief that whole foods and primarily plant-based diets support optimal health. Worldwide, the Seventh-day Adventist Church operates a number of health food industries and primary and tertiary healthcare entities that are aligned to its philosophy of supporting and caring for community health.

Today, our whole food plant-based approach to health is backed by decades of scientific research and evidence on the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Sanitarium remains committed to its purpose of helping Australians enjoy healthier, happier and longer lives.

Sanitarium's purpose

Our purpose of ‘changing lives every day through whole person health’ is evidenced through the nutritious foods we make, our free digital nutrition resources and health education programs, and our free nutrition expert advisory service available for the community and health professionals. To further our purpose, we partner with charities to combat food and nutrition insecurity and help our communities in time of disaster. Learn more about Sanitarium’s social purpose here.

Sanitarium is 100% Australian owned

We are proudly 100% Australian owned. Our head office, largest manufacturing site and leading food science centre is located on the NSW Central Coast. We also have food manufacturing facilities in Queensland and Western Australia and sales teams servicing all states and territories. We employ over 1000 people across Australia representing our diverse communities.  We export our products to over 40 countries around the world. Our Board of Directors, with a majority of non-church employed professional directors, ensures compliance and governance of operations in accordance with our legal obligations.

Sanitarium benefits the Australian economy

As a wholly owned Australian organisation, our business operations benefit the Australian community and economy. We contribute to Australia’s economy through the purchase of Australian ingredients such as wheat, sorghum and almonds, and working with many Australian businesses that help promote and move products through the supply chain.

Sanitarium is a registered charity

Sanitarium is a registered charity and is endorsed by the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) and the Australia Tax Office as income tax exempt. 

Sanitarium’s primary purpose is the promotion of health food products. This is aligned with the ‘whole person health’ objectives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For more information about the Charities and Not-for-Profit Sector in relation to taxation please visit the Australian government’s website www.acnc.gov.au

In 2008 the Charities and Not-for-profit Commission undertook an in-depth review of the charity sector and concluded that Sanitarium does not gain a preferential position within the food industry because of its charitable taxation status.