Affordable nutrition
Across all life stages, food and good nutrition are fundamental to everyone’s health, well-being and quality of life.
However, for millions of people, the fundamental human right to a nutritionally adequate diet at a price they can afford remains out of reach. This reality leads to lifelong consequences such as wasting and stunting, while heightening the risks of illness and infectious diseases. The toll is not only personal; it weakens communities and affects economies.
Nestlé helps address this pressing global health crisis by delivering accessible, affordable nutrition to those on lower incomes, helping to close nutrient gaps, particularly in emerging markets.
To maximize our positive impact, we create products that not only aim to address locally relevant nutritional deficiencies but are also consumed regularly by a large proportion of the population. These offerings can contribute to a balanced and varied diet and are affordable for those most in need.
Reaching more people with our affordable products
Ensuring fortified products are affordable
Addressing locally relevant micronutrient gaps with our fortified products is a key priority, and our efforts to innovate are continuous. We leverage data from international and national health authorities to pinpoint specific micronutrient deficiencies prevalent in various populations. We set stringent limits on fortification per serving to mitigate the risks of excessive consumption and always comply with local regulations.
We provide clear and accessible information about the nutritional benefits of our fortified products, while promoting healthy lifestyles in the communities we serve.
Affordable nutrition is also becoming a topic beyond emerging markets as families try to manage in inflationary environments. We are expanding our range of products to meet the evolving needs of those consumers and help them balance their budgets by providing good quality products in varied formats and with a variety of options and offers.
As we support the evolution of food systems, we are committed to introducing more affordable protein options and ensuring we produce our products sustainably.
Following the launch of Bunyad Iron+ in Pakistan, in 2023, we also launched Nutri Rindes milk powder in Mexico using Iron+ technology, a new source of iron that is three times better absorbed by the body compared to other sources.
In India, we reviewed the micronutrient needs of certain Indian communities and adapted Maggi Masala-ae-Magic seasoning to their local needs, and are also working to help increase whole grain consumption.
We have added iron to the widely used Maggi Magic Sarap seasoning in the Philippines. In Nigeria, we launched Maggi Soya Chunks, a tasty, affordable, plant-based meat alternative that enables consumers in Central and West Africa to add high-quality protein to their everyday food. Made from soy, each pack provides enough protein for up to eight people, with less saturated fats and cholesterol, at lower cost when compared to animal protein.
Improving access to nutrition and expertise
We collaborate with governments, universities and civil society organizations to create educational campaigns designed to improve families’ understanding of nutrition. These initiatives focus on increasing uptake of the 'big four' micronutrients: iron, iodine, vitamin A and zinc.
We are helping teachers educate children about good nutrition and active lifestyles through our school programs, and we are creating webinars and podcasts to engage adults.
Inspiring people to enjoy balanced diets
MyMenu IQTM is now available via 30 websites and measures the nutritional balance of a meal on a scale from 0 to 100 to help people combine foods for nutritional balance.
In the Philippines, our nutrition experts worked with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) to create an interactive online tool, the Tibay Calculator. The calculator offers parents valuable feedback on the nutritional value and diversity of their children’s diet. The tool is designed to be used to offer feedback on the diets of more than 500 000 children, and in turn, supporting their nutrition.
In Pakistan, where lots of children suffer from iron deficiency, our teams rolled out the Iron Calculator. This assesses dietary intake data to help educate parents about what to include in their children’s diet to boost their iron levels. Educational initiatives such as Nestlé for Healthier Kids help spread awareness and share knowledge about the importance of nutrition and healthy eating.
In alignment with our marketing to children policy, we work with social media influencers to inspire kids in the kitchen and use storytelling techniques to encourage them to eat more vegetables, using ingredients as characters. We help make drinking water more fun by showing how to infuse it with fruits.
In Central and West Africa, we run our Live Strong with Iron campaign that promotes iron-rich foods.
As part of our ambition to support healthy and balanced diets, we provide tasty and nutritious foods to our consumers via locally relevant micronutrient fortification at scale. Thanks to new affordable and accessible solutions, we can also support increased consumption of protein and fiber.
