Mumbai, India: In honor of National Nutrition Week, Mondelez India is celebrating the significant impact of its Eat Right Initiative, a cornerstone of its flagship CSR program, Shubh Aarambh. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to advancing nutritional education and promoting healthier communities across the nation.
Launched in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Save the Children, the Eat Right Initiative has experienced substantial growth since its inception. The program began in 2017 with the introduction of the Yellow Book, part of FSSAI’s Safe and Nutritious Food framework, in 40 schools in Delhi. It has since expanded to 200 schools across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi, reaching over 100,000 individuals, including 46,000 students, 13,500 principals, teachers, and parents.
The initiative’s core mission is to create a lasting legacy of health and wellness. It seeks to develop ‘Health and Wellness Ambassadors’ among students, enhance nutrition training for teachers, improve hygiene infrastructure, and organize events to raise awareness about nutrition. Schools that meet these benchmarks earn the Eat Right Schools certification, signifying their commitment to cultivating healthier generations.
As part of this initiative, 200 Health (Sehat) clubs have been set up, benefiting over 35,000 students, and 400 teachers have been trained as Health and Wellness Ambassadors. The initiative also includes regular nutrition awareness camps and Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC) for food handlers, all designed to promote health and wellness in schools and communities. Building on this success, Mondelez India is enhancing its commitment this year by supporting an additional 75 schools in their quest to achieve Eat Right Certification.
Recognizing the need for localized resources, Mondelez India has also translated the entire Eat Right Schools Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) content into various local languages to ensure broader accessibility and relevance.
A poignant example of the program’s success is the story of Ashiki, a 12-year-old student from Malwadi School. During a routine health check-up conducted by the Sehat Club, Ashiki’s dangerously low hemoglobin levels were identified. This discovery prompted immediate action from Dipak, a dedicated nutrition counselor under the Eat Right Initiative. Dipak, along with Ashiki’s teacher, Mrs. Vijaya, collaborated closely with Ashiki’s family to integrate iron-rich foods into her diet, leading to significant improvements in her health and self-confidence. Today, Ashiki is a passionate advocate for healthier eating, inspiring her peers and community.
Ashiki’s story is one of many across India, illustrating how the Eat Right Initiative and Shubh Aarambh are making a tangible difference in lives nationwide. As Mondelez India continues to scale its efforts, the commitment to enhancing nutrition and wellness remains resolute, paving the way for a healthier, more informed future.
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