Nutrition has been a central theme for Nestlé ever since 1867, when Henri Nestlé first invented infant food to help save the life of a neighbour's child. Today, we have progressed beyond these beginnings to become a world leader in key categories of Nutrition, Health and Wellness to offer our consumers the food choices they need to achieve the healthy lifestyles they want.

We are leaders in infant nutrition, medical nutrition, performance nutrition, weight management, water, powdered beverages, dairy, culinary and cereals. In all these categories we offer products that are preferred over those of our competitors in terms of taste and in addition, offer a clear nutritional advantage - 60/40+. This is our rigorous testing system that combines a taste preference with a scientific nutritional assessment.

We review the nutritional content of our products and reduce sensitive nutrients such as salt, sugar and trans fatty acids, and increase others that are considered positive for health, such as calcium, whole grain and fiber. We also add further health benefits in the shape of Branded Active Benefits such as Prebio for digestive comfort, Actige-E to help release energy from food, BL for immunity and protection and NutrriActive-B to help growrh of children.

We back this with the largest private research organisation in the world entirely dedicated to basic research in food and nutrition. In 2006, our total research and development spend was CHF 1.7 billion. Around 3,800 people from more than 50 countries work in our worldwide research, development and prodict testing centers. The focus of our R&D is on products that provide specific health and nutritional benefits.

Nestlé Nutrition was set up in 2005 as an independent entity within the Nestlé Group with specific responsibility for the areas of infant nutrition, healthcare nutrition and performance nutrition.