Nestlé has announced that it will expand its research on child health and nutrition to 10 countries, including the United States, China and Mexico, by the end of 2016.
The research consists of two ongoing Nestlé studies – the Kids Nutrition and Health Study (KNHS) and Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) – which provides snapshots of eating patterns, nutrient intakes, child lifestyle and behavioral factors, and healthy weight indicators of children up to 12 years of age.
These years are thought to be the critical habit-forming period that will impact health throughout life.
“Nestlé will rely on FITS and KNHS learnings to continually improve the nutritional profiles of our products that address unmet nutritional needs, as well as communications, programs and services to inform health care providers, parents and caregivers” said Timothy A. Morck, Vice President of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at Nestlé USA.
Findings from FITS caused Nestlé to adjust the composition of Gerber Graduates meals in the US to address a lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet.
Nestlé’s latest Kids Nutrition & Health Study (KNHS) found skipping lunch a common practice among children and adolescents in the United States, leading them to have lower intakes of nutrients, including calcium and fiber, than others their own age who ate lunch.
The findings were presented at the 2015 American Society of Nutrition conference.
Learn more by reading the press release on the Nestlé USA website