03 May 2022 Nestlé launches functional milk to boost SA’s health
Nestlé East and Southern African Region (ESAR) has launched NESTLÉ EVERYDAY, an affordable, medium fat dairy powder aimed at mitigating SA’s problematic micronutrient deficiencies.
Micronutrients account for approximately 7% of the global disease burden, and they play a key role in the human growth and development.
A lack of micronutrients, also known as hidden hunger, can lead to poor growth, sub-optimal brain development, and increased risk in contracting infectious diseases.
In South Africa, studies have shown that adults are prone to zinc deficiency and that one in five children are stunted.
“The introduction of NESTLÉ EVERYDAY into our stable of brands for the South African family is a deliberate pivot from the business in East and Southern Africa,” says Takudzwa Mupfurutsa, Business Executive Officer: Dairy at Nestlé ESAR.
“We are driven to contribute to solving hidden hunger by bringing products that are affordable and accessible while boosting immunity and health. NESTLÉ EVERYDAY is testament to that commitment, formulated through innovative and collaborative research with labs and communities.”
NESTLÉ EVERYDAY is enhanced with locally sourced ingredients containing calcium, iron, vitamins and zinc. It is best consumed in the morning, one glass a day will make a meaningful difference to health, claims Nestlé ESAR.
“The COVID–19 outbreak emphasised the importance of strong immunity to help our bodies fight against infectious diseases. The economic impact of the pandemic for many families in emerging economies further hamstrung access to nutritious food to build immunity,” adds Mupfurutsa.
“Therefore, we locally manufactured NESTLÉ EVERYDAY in South Africa to deliver an affordable product that suits all budgets and is easily available from both supermarkets and spaza shops.
“We are proud that the product also delivers exceptionally on taste, ensuring a delicious experience for all.”
NESTLÉ EVERYDAY is available in 250g packs, and when prepared, each pack yields 1.75 litres of dairy drink. Price point is R32.99 for a 250g pouch.
We asked Nestle for some comment on such a launch considering the extent of lactose intolerance in Africa. See more here.
This is the response: “It is true that there is a high prevalence of lactose intolerance amongst black adult South Africans. However, not all is clinically significant (ie not all have symptoms; or experience discomfort).
“We know that of the 70% a large proportion tolerate small amounts of lactose in the form of sour milk, cheese and other formats, even small quantities of milk in tea and coffee is well tolerated.
“Since NESTLÉ EVERYDAY is an all family dairy blend we believe it will be consumed in the general way that milk is consumed by these households. Of note is that the lactose intolerance referred to in the studies is adult-onset, so children can continue to consume lactose in any format without any discomfort (unless of course they have been diagnosed with lactose intolerance as a baby).
“One should also keep in mind that the dairy matrix is a carrier of many nutrients and in the case of NESTLÉ EVERYDAY it is not just calcium, but it has been further fortified with Iron, zinc, Vit C and B vitamins.
“So one would like to advocate for the consumption of dairy (in our case NESTLÉ EVERYDAY, a dairy blend) to ensure we address the hidden hunger in our country which ultimately affects our children, them as adults and ultimately impact human capital development.”
For more information visit www.nestle-esar.com