Cargill’s new website aims to help food makers improve nutritional products for kids
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity rates among children and teenagers have tripled in the past 30 years. If obesity trends continue, the associated medical costs could rise to an estimated $66 billion annually by 2030. This is why Cargill is launching www.childhood-nutrition.com to provide ideas for solving formulation challenges associated with creating children’s products that are healthier and taste great. The website was designed to connect food makers with updates on nutrition news, government policy, stakeholder actions and consumer trends shaping the rapidly changing landscape surrounding childhood nutrition.
“Cargill believes that we all have a stake in improving kids’ nutrition–families, government, public health organizations and the food and beverage industry,” says Pat Bowe, corporate vice president of Cargill’s Food Ingredients & Systems businesses. “With this initiative, we are focusing resources to help customers develop formulations with less trans and saturated fat, sugar and sodium and more whole grains, fiber and protein. Customers have an opportunity to offer healthier choices and meet new childhood nutrition guidelines and standards such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) school meal program requirements, as well as recommendations from industry organizations such as the Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), Disney and retailers including Walmart.”