Business News of Friday, 31 March 2017

Source: EXP Ghana

Nestlé’s Cerelac affirms its commitment to providing nutritionally sound products

Otiko Afisa Djaba, (M) Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection with staff of Nestle Ghana Otiko Afisa Djaba, (M) Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection with staff of Nestle Ghana

Nestlé Nutrition is committed to support the World Health Organization and governments in their efforts to provide safe and adequate nutrition for infants in order to ensure their optimal growth and development.

As a company, we continue to invest in the innovation and renovation of our large portfolio of products in Central and West Africa to boost nutritional value, while improving taste. This is based on nutrition science and globally accepted public health dietary recommendations.

On 30th March 2017, Nestle launched its Cerelac® with Iron+ under the theme “Complementary feeding in infants – the role of Iron”. Nestlé’s Cerelac® is an infant cereal with milk specially formulated for babies above 6 months.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Hon. Otiko afisa Djaba, said “I commend Nestlé for contributing to good nutrition and wellbeing of Ghanaians over the years.

They have demonstrated leadership as good nutrition is a key way to ensure children grow healthy and strong. Cerelac iron+ is fortified with iron to support healthy brain and cognitive development and I Cerelac iron+”.

The first one thousand days between a woman’s conception and her child’s second birthday offers a unique window of opportunity to shape a healthier and more prosperous future for children. Optimal nutrition during this thousand day window, can have a profound impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn and possibly impact on their socio-economic status.

It can also shape a society’s long-term health, stability and prosperity. This is why Nestle supports exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and appropriate complementary feeding after six months onwards with continued breastfeeding until the child’s second birthday.

Fortified infant cereals are effective to reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia. Poor nutritional practices in young children exposes them to greater risks of morbidity making complementary feeding in sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana where stunting and anemia is highly prevalent particularly important.

Cerelac® with Iron+ is fortified with Iron that helps support healthy brain and cognitive development with other key vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A & C, and Zinc. Cerelac is also fortified with Bifidus BL, a probiotic that strengthens babies’ immune system.

Cerelac is produced with grains which are locally sourced in Ghana. Through the Nestle Cereal Plan, Nestle trains grain farmers on best agricultural practices that meet the required quality for production.

Nestlé as a company is guided by one purpose: “enhancing the quality of life and contributing to a healthier future’. We are guided by the values of respect for self, others, diversity and for the future. Respect for the future enables us to act responsibly and support the development of the younger generation.