Across all phases of human life, food, and good nutrition are fundamental to good health, well-being, and quality of living. However, many people around the world lack access to nutritionally adequate and affordable diets, which can lead to different forms of malnutrition. Creating a fair, global food system means making sure that everyone, everywhere can access nutritious food.
The Challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa
Home to around 1 billion people, sub-Saharan Africa is very diverse with a fast-growing and young population. While the region has experienced relative economic growth for some years, many communities continue to face severe challenges such as declining human capital development indices evidenced by immiserating poverty and widespread malnutrition. The nutritional situation in various regions of the African continent is complex. According to World Bank reports many children in the region suffer from stunted growth and anemia due to poor nutrition. As a result, food manufacturing businesses in Africa have been charged with taking responsibility by providing products with essential nutrients to help combat nutritional deficiencies in the population.
Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world; faces a huge burden of malnutrition characterized massively by undernutrition. According to the National Nutrition and Health Survey, approximately 2.5 million children under five are affected by acute malnutrition, with micronutrient deficiencies prevalent across various demographic groups. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies malnutrition as a pressing public health issue, encompassing stunting, wasting, obesity, and deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Addressing these challenges requires targeted interventions, particularly through the food supply chain, which is where Nestlé Nigeria is strategically positioned to make an impact.
The Fortification Option
Speaking at the annual symposium of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), Dr. Kanalio Olaloku from the Nestlé Nutrition Institute, Central West African Region, emphasized the importance of fortifying widely consumed foods and beverages with essential micronutrients. She argued that such fortification is crucial in addressing the nutritional deficiencies prevalent among vulnerable populations in Nigeria. According to Dr. Olaloku “To ensure maximum impact, fortified products must be both affordable and accessible. We must ensure that the micronutrient levels in these foods are carefully calibrated to provide at least 15% of daily requirements while remaining below upper intake limits to prevent over-consumption and potential adverse effects.” This approach aligns with global best practices for food fortification, ensuring that vulnerable groups receive adequate nutrition without risking harmful health effects.
Nestlé Nigeria has long been a proponent of nutritional fortification. The company has undertaken various initiatives to incorporate essential vitamins and minerals into its products. For instance, Maggi seasoning and other of its products has been fortified with iron and other micronutrients to enhance its nutritional profile. This strategy not only improves the health of consumers but also positions Nestlé as a leader in the fight against malnutrition.
The burden of this leadership compels the megabrand to reinforce its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians across all generations. With a robust portfolio that includes renowned brands such as Nestlé Purelife, Golden Morn, Milo, Maggi, and Nescafé among others, the company aims to provide consumers with nutritious, delicious, and accessible food and beverages tailored to meet the diverse dietary needs of the population. It is quite obvious that Nestlé is working hard to make better nutrition affordable. That’s why it is helping to close nutrient gaps by fortifying its products with essential micronutrients such as iron, iodine, zinc, and high-quality protein.
In line with Dr. Olaloku’s recommendations, Nestlé is continuously assessing and enhancing its product formulations to ensure that they meet the nutritional needs of the population while remaining affordable. This commitment is reflected in the introduction of smaller, cost-effective packaging for its products, making them more accessible to low-income consumers without compromising on quality or nutrition.
Dr. Olaloku’s presentation, titled “Adequate Nutrition as Preventative Medicine,” provided a comprehensive overview of malnutrition’s multifaceted nature. She explained that malnutrition is not solely defined by undernutrition but also encompasses overnutrition, which leads to health issues such as obesity and related chronic diseases. By addressing both ends of the malnutrition spectrum, Nestlé aims to promote holistic health among its consumers.
Consumer Education
Nestlé Nigeria is not only focused on product development but also on consumer education. Through its Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative, the company engages with schools and communities to promote healthy eating habits. The program provides resources for parents and children on the importance of balanced diets and offers cooking demonstrations to showcase how to prepare nutritious meals using Nestlé products.
Affordability is a critical factor in the fight against malnutrition and food insecurity. For many communities, the cost of nutritious food is a barrier to achieving a balanced diet. In Central and West Africa, Nestlé aims to provide children and adults alike with the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. According to Salomé Azevedo, Business Executive Officer – Dairy, Nestlé Central & West Africa “In 2022, Nestlé served consumers in our region with 89.5 billion servings of products fortified with at least one of the 4 main micronutrients we are deficient in (Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Vitamin A), to help them address the micronutrient deficiency gaps, particularly, iron deficiency. Our recent introduction of Nido Milk & Soya in Nigeria is part of the company’s commitment to making better nutrition affordable and accessible across the region”
Enhancing Affordability and productivity
This shows how affordability can be integrated into nutritional solutions, ensuring that essential nutrients are within reach for all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Recognising that accessibility also influences affordability, Nestlé uses locally sourced soybeans for the manufacturing of Nido Milk & Soya in Nigeria. In this way, the company does not only support local agriculture but also ensures that the product is readily available to consumers in the region. This localised approach to production and sourcing reduces transportation costs, lowering the price of the product for the end consumer.
Experts agree that Nestlé Nigeria’s proactive stance on nutrition and affordability plays a vital role in addressing the country’s food security challenges. Dr. Adeola Olabisi, a renowned registered dietitian with over a decade of experience in the field of nutrition, emphasized the profound impact that nutrition has on human health. She stated, “Nutrition is not just about eating; it is the foundation for overall well-being. A balanced and nutrient-rich diet can prevent chronic diseases, boost immunity, improve mental health, and enhance physical performance. What we consume daily directly affects our longevity, quality of life, and the ability to combat illnesses.” Dr. Olabisi advocates for tailored nutrition plans that cater to individual needs, recognizing that each person’s nutritional requirements are unique. She states, “Nestlé’s comprehensive approach—combining affordable products, educational initiatives, and local sourcing—has the potential to create a substantial impact on nutrition in Nigeria. Their efforts can help bridge the gap between food availability and access to healthy options.”
Strategic Partnership
Nestlé Nigeria collaborates with various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and health professionals to create a supportive environment for improving nutrition. These partnerships help in raising awareness about the importance of micronutrient fortification and drive collective efforts to ensure that affordable, nutritious food is available to all segments of the population. The success of companies like Nestlé alongside initiatives from organizations like GAIN and the Gates Foundation, demonstrate that strategic partnerships, affordable solutions, and community engagement are key to improving public health outcomes. Fortifying commonly consumed foods with essential vitamins and minerals offers a scalable, sustainable solution to malnutrition in Nigeria and other developing regions.
Nestlé’s commitment to educating consumers is further demonstrated through its partnerships and collaborations on projects aimed at improving community health outcomes.
Connecting with Citadels of Learning
Since 2019, Nestlé established collaborations with several leading universities across Western, Central, and Eastern Africa to close gaps and groom young talents. Nestlé works directly with local researchers to put resources towards existing science and technology gaps related to affordable and sustainable nutrition.
For example, there is an investment in nutrition and sustainability projects at the University of Ghana through a 5-year program to support a large number of Ph.D. and Masters students in food science, nutrition and food process engineering. The specific research themes include the development of highly affordable nutritious foods, the impact of iron fortification on public health, as well as the implications of climate change on food security and nutritional quality.
Nestlé is also collaborating with the University of Ibadan in Nigeria to understand the dietary intakes of Nigerian children aged four to thirteen years. This data will enable Nestlé and the government to identify and understand the nutritional gaps and inadequacies. This understanding will be applied for the development of affordable nutritious food and beverages.
Nestlé’s academic network in sub-Saharan Africa also includes many other well-known African universities in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, as well as the Swiss Center for Scientific Research in Côte d’Ivoire. There are also collaborations in the area of engineering, where Nestlé and other industrial partners set up a 3-year Master’s program together with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) and the Ashesi University in Ghana.
Besides the development of new solutions, Nestlé aims to nurture local talents and support scientific expertise which is needed to overcome the various challenges related to nutrition and sustainability. Students from different cities across sub-Saharan Africa can embark on internships in the regional innovation centers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the local experimental farms, or in one of the other global R&D centers. Currently, Nestlé has students doing internships related to farming and post-harvest practices, technologies that allow the company to deepen local raw materials, affordable protein sources, and creative solutions to reduce plastic waste. Training is provided by Nestlé experts and the solutions can be tested immediately under real-life conditions. This academic program is an integral part of its global Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative.
Growing Local Start-Ups
Providing safe and affordable nutritious products using local protein and carbohydrate sources, as well as environmentally friendly packaging, remains a challenge. Nestlé has collaborated with local start-ups and entrepreneurs including those in local universities, in the frame of a pan-African innovation challenge. The finalists were awarded the opportunity to further explore their ideas in the regional R&D Accelerator located at the R&D Center in Abidjan. Beyond the innovation challenge, Nestlé continues to work with and support local start-ups and a large number of ‘agripreneurs’ in their efforts to test and scale up innovative solutions.
Through this comprehensive pan-African innovation program, which complements the R&D expertise with academic capabilities and entrepreneurial creativity, Nestlé continues to make an impactful contribution towards affordable nutrition; making good nutrition affordable and accessible to everyone while ensuring a minimal impact on the environment.
As Nigeria grapples with significant nutritional challenges, Nestlé Nigeria’s commitment to providing affordable, nutritious food solutions positions it as a key player in the fight against malnutrition. By focusing on product fortification, accessibility, and community education, the company is unlocking the power of food to enhance the quality of life for Nigerians today and for generations to come. For instant, millions of Nigerian households consume these fortified products daily, helping to combat micronutrient deficiencies across various demographics. By providing affordable fortified foods, Nestlé improves nutrition while supporting national health strategies to reduce malnutrition.
This further underscores the importance of strategic partnerships and serves as a vital reminder of the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the complex issues of malnutrition. As Nestlé continues to innovate and engage with consumers, it is paving the way for a healthier, vibrant and more food-secure Nigeria. The call for incorporating essential micronutrients into widely consumed foods is not just a recommendation; it is a necessity for the nation’s health and well-being proudly championed by Nestlé.