Access to affordable nutrition is a global challenge affecting many people around the world, especially in emerging countries. Many people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, particularly children and pregnant women.
To help address this challenge, Nestlé is accelerating its efforts to develop more affordable nutritious products, that contain essential vitamins and minerals.
In Pakistan, where one out of two children are deficient in iron, the company recently launched BUNYAD IRON+, an affordable dairy-based drink. BUNYAD IRON+ is fortified with a new source of iron that is more suitable for dairy products, as well as three times more absorbed in the body when compared to existing available sources.
The unique and proprietary iron source is based on FERRI-PROTM, a technology originally developed by Riddet Institute, Massey University in New Zealand and acquired by Nestlé in January 2019.
Heike Steiling, Head of Nestlé's R&D center for dairy in Konolfingen, Switzerland says: "After we acquired the technology, we continued to collaborate closely with Massey University to bring this new source of iron to market. Using our R&D expertise in dairy products, we further optimized and improved the taste, stability, cost, as well as other key parameters. We are excited to see this new technology being applied for the development of affordable nutrition solutions."
"We relished the opportunity to work with Nestlé to co-develop the FERRI-PROTM technology, and it is so fulfilling to see its application in helping address iron deficiency in vulnerable populations across the globe": said Harjinder Singh, Director of the Riddet Institute and Distinguished Professor at Massey University.
Nestlé also recently launched Nestlé Everyday, to help address micronutrient deficiencies in Eastern and Southern Africa for both adults and children. Nestlé Everyday is a new dairy powder manufactured locally and containing calcium, iron, vitamins and zinc, to help build and strengthen immunity for the whole family. The new product costs about 20% less than alternative products, therefore giving lower-income families an affordable nutritious option.
Both these innovations leverage Nestlé's expertise for dairy products at its R&D centers in Konolfingen, Switzerland and Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The R&D experts worked alongside Nestlé's dairy business and the local teams in Pakistan and South Africa to ensure that the products meet local taste preferences and nutritional needs, while minimizing production costs to ensure affordability.
Mayank Trivedi, Head of the Dairy Strategic Business Unit at Nestlé says: "Both these new innovations are part of our efforts to address affordable nutrition by providing safe and high-quality products to meet dietary needs and taste preferences around the world."
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