Access to affordable and nutritious food

Access to adequate food and a nutritious diet is a fundamental human right. Yet it is estimated that 840 million people regularly go to bed hungry and three billion cannot afford a healthy, nutritious diet.

Against the backdrop of a growing world population, expected to reach 10 billion people by 2050, the problem will continue to be a challenge.

We are helping tackle hunger and malnutrition and working hard to eradicate conditions such as anemia and wasting, particularly in vulnerable populations. We focus our efforts on product innovation, by creating affordable staples fortified with micronutrients and by sharing practical nutrition tips. We are acutely conscious that alleviating these issues must not come at the expense of the planet.

Creating affordable nutrition through innovation

More than half of the global population survives on between USD 2-10 per day, so part of our research and development work is focused on creating affordable products fortified with micronutrients. As nutritional deficiencies can vary geographically, reflecting different eating habits, historical, cultural and religious factors and socio-economic circumstances, it’s vital we make sure such nutrients are locally relevant.

Another important aspect is closing the 'protein gap' – this refers to demand for protein that outstrips supply or where what is available is unaffordable to local communities. We are helping by engaging our scientists to adjust processes and recipes and by using local raw materials to develop innovative products using more affordable, plant-based proteins.

Our key actions

• Continue to assist people in making food choices, by providing on-pack nutritional information, consumption guidance and services to support balanced eating
• Expand our offering and access to affordable, nutritious and fortified foods
• Benchmark our entire portfolio using credible international scientific nutritional profile ratings
• Support 50 million children annually to adopt balanced diets and lifestyles through Nestlé for Healthier Kids by 2030
• Roll out our revised Policy on the Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes and our global commitment to stop the promotion of our infant formula for babies up to 6 months of age
• Upgrade and implement our Policy on Marketing Communication to Children
• Roll out offline and online services in our key markets and activate nutrition education programs that are relevant to consumers
• Explore opportunities to replicate and scale up our farmer family nutrition interventions
• Further explore links between regenerative agriculture and improved nutrition
• Halve food waste in our operations by 2030 and accelerate action on SDGs target 12.3 by helping tackle food loss and waste along our value chain

Improving lives in Brazil’s favelas

In Brazil, the Gerando Falcões Fruit and Nut bar was launched in 2022 as Nestlé’s first social product. All profits are destined to help improve the lives of residents from four large favelas in Brazil, in three regions: Maceió, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. To date, sales of the bar have generated B$ 300 million (around CHF 54 million) to help the Gerando Falcões organization improve lives in Brazil’s Favelas.

Tackling iron deficiencies in Pakistan

In Pakistan, where half of children are iron-deficient, we launched Bunyad Iron+, an affordable dairy-based drink fortified with a new source of iron that is three times better absorbed by the body compared with existing sources. 

Helping children lead healthier lives

Nestlé for Healthier Kids seeks to spread awareness of healthy eating globally. It is focused on combating malnutrition but also highlights the risks of being overweight and the chronic conditions that can stem from obesity. Its research reveals that children in China only consume 16% of the recommended amount of dairy; 30% of children in Russia do not eat vegetables daily; and 16% of children in the United States skip lunch and miss out on precious vitamins and minerals.

A global network of research and development scientists

Our R&D network comprises 23 locations worldwide and sees our scientists collaborate with leading universities and start-ups to help create more affordable and sustainable nutrition. Our R&D Center for affordable nutrition in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, plays a key role in creating foods that target the needs of vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa – specifically Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. It boasts food technologists, scientists, and engineers who specialize in innovation around cereals, dairy, snacks and drinks.