The programme will focus on providing nutrition and education for malnourished children in Pune

PepsiCo launches ‘Bowl of Growth’ programme in Pune to address malnutrition – Food Industry News

The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, PepsiCo R&D team and brand Quaker have launched ‘Bowl of Growth’ a special nutrition focused programme in partnership with NGO MAMTA HIMC in Pune, to provide 1,000 children aged 3 to 5 years with wholesome nourishment each day. The interventions under the Bowl of Growth programme are designed with focus on three key pillars – Nutrition, Awareness, and Education.

In India, about 1.5 million children under the age of 5 suffer from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) as a result of inadequate dietary intake and infectious disease. To combat this issue and mark the International Year of Millets, ‘Bowl of Growth’ has curated a locally acceptable recipe of ‘Panjiri’, from a millet and multigrain-based Quaker product, containing 18 additional micro-nutrients designed by PepsiCo R&D team specifically to the local needs of children from the region.

The programme was recently launched by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister of Tourism, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra at a special event in Pune.

‘Bowl of Growth’ is an extension of PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) ambition and Food for Good philanthropic efforts to create a sustainable future for people and the planet – including by increasing nutritious food access for 50 million people by 2030.

The programme will be implemented in Khed Taluka, in Pune district where identified malnourished children will be provided with a nutritious supplement. The programme will also include ongoing monitoring of the progress of the children to analyse the impact and nutritional recovery of the participants.