Fortified milk Shop vendor in Conakry, Guinea, sells Nido Essentia, a fortified milk developed to address local deficiencies in iron and vitamin C in West Africa.

Micronutrient malnutrition has many adverse effects on human health and can cause serious impairment to physical and mental development in young children. Addressing local deficiencies through fortification is a long-term solution that can deliver nutrients to large segments of the population without requiring radical changes in food consumption patterns.

While micronutrient malnutrition can affect all age groups in the industrialised as well as developing countries, young children in the developing world are particularly at risk. To help combat this, Nestlé is working to address local deficiencies through the fortification of some of its key products, in particular milks.

One particular range, the milk products variously branded as Nido, Ninho, Nespray, Bear Brand and Ideal, has been developed to contain the necessary energy, protein and micronutrients for growing children. These products are fortified with iron, zinc, vitamin A, and other micronutrients, as appropriate for the target population and according to deficiencies most prevalent in each location.

But to bring these products within reach of lower-income groups without compromising their nutritional quality, Nestlé is making them available in affordable formats to local populations in emerging markets. By the end of 2010, these affordable milks will reach millions of consumers in over 70 countries world-wide, especially in developing countries.

Learn more about Nestlé and micronutrient fortification.