Introduction

Everyone has a right to safe, high-quality foods
Acute malnutrition is a serious challenge in countries where poverty is widespread. According to the World Health Organization, undernutrition is to blame for nearly half of deaths among children under five1. An estimated 150 million children are affected by stunting2. Poor nutrition also compromises the health of young women – the mothers of the next generation. 

Protein is the macronutrient that most malnourished children and young women lack. This is where our whey ingredients can make an important contribution to growth and development. They are both a source of easily absorbed, high-quality proteins and rich in minerals such as calcium and carbohydrate in the form of lactose.  

In addition to their nutritional content, our ingredients deliver taste, texture and stability, meeting the needs and preferences of consumers in specific markets. 

Research for better food aid 
Our work with affordable nutrition dates back to 2009, when we began supporting research to improve the nutritional quality of food aid for children with moderate to severe acute malnutrition. Since then we have continued to back clinical studies that investigate the potential contribution of whey ingredients to malnutrition recovery. All these studies are published in peer-reviewed journals. 

Breaking the malnutrition cycle 
Local initiatives are vital to establish and deliver a reliable supply of affordable, healthy and safe foods in low-income countries. With our affordable nutrition concepts, we aim to support food manufacturers in making the best use of local raw materials, including milk and seed, legume and fruit crops.  

Each concept is the outcome of our involvement in collaborative projects, where we work with external partners to build models for sustainable food systems. These models and our knowledge are freely available to members of the SUN Business Network, facilitating their transfer to other countries where they can be of use.