Unlocking the full range of human potential
The DSM Nutrition Improvement Program is designed to support and promote the addition of essential micronutrients to staple foods. The program ensures that people receive the vitamins, trace elements and minerals that the body can’t synthesize, but which we need in minute quantities every day.
A way to advance global development
The World Health Organization says that more than a third of the world’s population suffers from micronutrient malnutrition. Over two billion people suffer from iron deficiency anemia, almost two billion are iodine deficient, while more than a quarter of a billion children have too little vitamin A. And we know that deficiencies of zinc, folate, vitamin D and other vitamins and minerals are widespread.
Clearly, micronutrient malnutrition is a major problem. It severely impairs quality of life and undermines earning potential for many, many people. It also puts a brake on a country’s growth potential.
And yet it’s a relatively easy problem to tackle. Adding nutrients to staple foods provides vulnerable people with the micronutrients they need. They don’t have to change their eating habits, it is safe and efficient, and it doesn’t place an extra burden on already hard-pressed health care services. Even better, it only costs a few cents per person per year – it’s simply the most economical way to reduce micronutrient malnutrition.
Multiple micronutrients
DSM’s Nutrition Improvement Program uses only proven, quality ingredients in a multiple micronutrient approach. Why multiple micronutrients? Because fixing just one deficiency is not enough – a person’s metabolism can still be impaired due to another deficiency.
The program focuses primarily on family health, especially women of childbearing age and children under two. This is because malnutrition can be devastating when it strikes before a child’s second birthday. It makes them weaker, lethargic and more susceptible to infection. It also impacts their physical and mental development for the rest of their lives. In areas like these, where poor nutrition is affecting real lives, DSM can make a difference.
We have the expertise, experience and resources to support an effective food fortification program anywhere in the world. Our Nutritional Products business is the only integrated provider of vitamins and other nutrients to offer in-house R&D, tailor-made premix blends and comprehensive support for communication and regulatory measures. And we’ll keep on working to improve our efforts.
