Affordable nutrition

Across all life stages, food and good nutrition are fundamental to everyone’s health, well-being and quality of life.

However, for millions of people, the fundamental human right to a nutritionally adequate diet at a price they can afford remains out of reach. This reality leads to lifelong consequences such as wasting and stunting, while heightening the risks of illness and infectious diseases. The toll is not only personal; it weakens communities and affects economies.

Nestlé helps address this pressing global health crisis by delivering accessible, affordable nutrition to those on lower incomes, helping to close nutrient gaps, particularly in emerging markets. 

To maximize our positive impact, we create products that not only aim to address locally relevant nutritional deficiencies but are also consumed regularly by a large proportion of the population. These offerings can contribute to a balanced and varied diet and are affordable for those most in need.

Reaching more people with our affordable products

Ensuring fortified products are affordable 

Addressing locally relevant micronutrient gaps with our fortified products is a key priority, and our efforts to innovate are continuous. We leverage data from international and national health authorities to pinpoint specific micronutrient deficiencies prevalent in various populations. We set stringent limits on fortification per serving to mitigate the risks of excessive consumption and always comply with local regulations. 

We provide clear and accessible information about the nutritional benefits of our fortified products, while promoting healthy lifestyles in the communities we serve.

Affordable nutrition is also becoming a topic beyond emerging markets as families try to manage in inflationary environments. We are expanding our range of products to meet the evolving needs of those consumers and help them balance their budgets by providing good quality products in varied formats and with a variety of options and offers. 

As we support the evolution of food systems, we are committed to introducing more affordable protein options and ensuring we produce our products sustainably.

We have been providing multiple affordable offerings in the MENA region for many years—and continue to do so. NIDO El Assassy, for example, is available in Egypt and is an iron-fortified milk formula that, when consumed twice a day, provides growing children with more than 50% of their daily iron needs. 

As part of our breakfast cereals range offered in the region, some products—such as Nesquik and Chocapic—are available in affordable formats. They offer a full serving of whole grains in each portion and are fortified with essential micronutrients such as iron and B-vitamins, which are vital for children’s healthy growth and cognitive development. 

Additionally, we offer individually packed, single-serving chicken and beef hard bouillon formats across Egypt, including rural and remote areas. These are fortified with iodine, supporting convenient accessibility and helping families prepare nutritious homemade meals.

Improving access to nutrition and expertise

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Inspiring people to enjoy balanced diets 

My Menu IQTM is now available via 30 websites and measures the nutritional balance of a meal on a scale from 0 to 100 to help people combine foods for nutritional balance. 

This digital service has been integrated into our MAGGI Arabia website (maggiarabia.com), supporting families in our region in preparing and consuming balanced meals every day. 

In alignment with our marketing to children policy, we work with social media influencers to inspire kids in the kitchen and use storytelling techniques to encourage them to eat more vegetables, using ingredients as characters. We help make drinking water more fun by showing how to infuse it with fruits.