Mumbai: The PepsiCo Foundation, in collaboration with PepsiCo R&D and Quaker, has released the ‘Building A Healthier Tomorrow’ report at an event in Mumbai, highlighting the success of the Quaker ‘Bowl of Growth’ program. Launched in 2023 with NGO MAMTA HIMC, the initiative aims to uplift community health by supporting 1,000 malnourished children aged 3-5 in Mawal & Mulshi Blocks, Pune District, Maharashtra.

Program impact and key findings:

. 98 per cent of children consistently ate at least three-quarters of the ‘panjiri’ made with Quaker Multigrain & Millet-based recipe.

. 89 per cent of the children in the program experienced improved or stable growth parameters.

. 95.6 per cent of mothers & caregivers reported an increase in their children’s appetite.

The program places the mother and child at the heart of its interventions. It has empowered parents and caregivers with knowledge and resources to provide balanced nutrition to children. A key focus of the program is to intervene during the early stages of malnutrition to prevent its progression to severe forms, ensuring a healthier future for children.

Aligned with PepsiCo’s principle of ‘Partnership of Progress’, the Quaker ‘Bowl of Growth’ program strategically partnered with the Government of Maharashtra to ensure the scalability and sustainability of nutrition interventions. Building on the success of the first phase, Quaker will continue the program in Pune, reaching an additional 2,000 children, with further expansion plans for Mumbai, aiming to benefit 4,000 children.

The event witnessed participation from the Government of Maharashtra, Commissioner of ICDS, Kailash Pagare; BJ Govt. Medical College, Pune, professor & head, Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Muralidhar P. Tambe; PepsiCo, chief medical officer and Senior Vice President of Life Sciences, Dr. Pietro Antonio Tataranni; PepsiCo Foundation, International Programs Lead, Kareem Mohamed; PepsiCo India and South Asia, R&D Region Senior Director, Mijanur Rahman; PepsiCo India, senior director and supply chain head, Rinkesh Satija; MAMTA HIMC, executive director, Dr. Sunil Mehra; and government of Maharashtra, deputy director and state nodal officer for child health, Dr. Govind Chaudhary. The municipal commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Dr. Bhushan Gagrani, shared a video message as part of the event.

Congratulating PepsiCo India, Government of Maharashtra commissioner, ICDS, Kailash Pagare said, “The improvement in children's nutritional health by the methodology of education, awareness and supplementation of nutrition is truly encouraging. These achievements highlight the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing malnutrition. The Government of Maharashtra fully supports and appreciates such initiatives as it aligns with our state's vision for a healthier future.”

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) municipal commissioner Dr. Bhushan Gagrani (IAS) in his video message about the program, praised PepsiCo India for its dedication and commitment in launching the impactful 'Bowl of Growth' program in Pune, which aligns seamlessly with the state government's efforts to eradicate malnutrition. He emphasized that the success of this initiative underscores the strength of public-private partnerships and stressed the importance of scaling this program to reach more children across Maharashtra.

PepsiCo Foundation president and PepsiCo global head of philanthropy C.D. Glin, commented on the significance of the program, “At the PepsiCo Foundation, we combat food insecurity through initiatives like meal delivery, supporting food banks, and regenerative farming. Malnutrition is a global issue, and proactive intervention is crucial to address the unique challenges faced in different regions. The Quaker ‘Bowl of Growth’ report highlights our commitment to improving childhood nutrition, showing significant gains in nutritional intake and knowledge. Our partnership with MAMTA HIMC has positively impacted community health in Pune, Maharashtra. Additionally, the support received from the local administration at each and every step over the last year has been instrumental in the implementation of the program. By addressing food insecurity at a local level, we aim to help create sustainable and long-lasting change in the communities we serve.”

PepsiCo MD, chief medical officer and senior vice president, life sciences, Dr Pietro Antonio Tataranni, added, “Through our pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) commitment, we are dedicated to offering positive choices that benefit people and our planet. The impact findings of the ‘Bowl of Growth’ program highlight PepsiCo’s efforts in supporting underserved communities in India.  The results are particularly encouraging, with 89 per cent of the children in the program experiencing improved or stable growth parameters. Additionally, 95.6 per cent of mothers & caregivers reported an increase in their children’s appetite. These numbers are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our teams over the past year. It's heartening to see that the enrolled children loved the panjiri, with nearly each child consistently consuming at least three-quarters of the provided recipe.”

PepsiCo India category lead, brand Quaker Sravani Babu said, “At Quaker, our 145-year commitment to nutrition is embodied in the 'Bowl of Growth' program. The ‘Building A Healthier Tomorrow’ report highlights significant improvements in children's nutritional intake and awareness among mothers and caregivers. The positive response to Quaker’s nutrient-rich panjiri recipe has been particularly inspiring. Through our partnership with MAMTA HIMC, we have made a substantial impact on community health in Maharashtra. Aligned with PepsiCo’s principle of Partnership of Progress, this program marks an important first step, with its expansion now reaching Mumbai.”

Key interventions of the Quaker ‘Bowl of Growth’ program:

. Nutrition: Developed a local recipe ‘panjiri’, made with a specialized Quaker multigrain & millets -based product with 18 vitamins & minerals.

. Awareness: Conducted thematic engagement sessions and released a program video on the importance of nutrition and millets.

. Education: Hosted daily workshops and introduced an illustrated comic book emphasising balanced nutrition.

Quaker’s 'Bowl of Growth' initiative aligns with PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) ambition and ‘Food for Good’ efforts, aiming to provide nutritious food to 50 million people by 2030.

The report launch was complemented by 'Fuel the Future,' an educational initiative aimed at empowering community members. Through this national competition, Quaker, a brand that stands for nutrition, aims to empower students of India's Nutrition and Allied Science College to be the changemakers, drive awareness and educate communities about malnutrition.