To contribute to prevention of undernutrition in fragile context through available and accessible nutritional support to pregnant and lactating women and to children under 2

Improving nutrition during the critical first 1,000 days

This commitment targets mother and child health during the first 1,000 days of life, as nutritional studies converge to emphasise that the first 1,000 days of human existence, between conception and 2 years of age, are decisive for linear growth and development. Any deficiency during this period can have irreversible long-term effects.

Stunting before 2 years of age predicts poorer cognitive and educational outcomes in later childhood and adolescence and has important educational and economic consequences at the individual, household and community levels. These often-irreversible damages can be prevented by upstream interventions to ensure good nutritional status of mothers during pregnancy, encourage exclusive breastfeeding and guarantee the good nutrition of infants and toddlers.

This commitment focuses on these first 1,000 days, and specifically on the mothers and children benefiting from nutritional support during this period. Nutriset commits to reach as many mothers and children as possible through the development (manufacturing and increased accessibility of specific nutritional solutions) and the placement of nutritional products on the market.

For pregnant and lactating women:

In developing countries, inadequate maternal nutritional status is considered the main cause for intrauterine growth retardation and subsequent low birth weight. Low birth weight (less than 2,500g) is associated with a higher risk of neonatal morbidity and irreversible effects on child development.

Growing evidence points out that supplementation during pregnancy and lactation can improve maternal micronutrient status as well as birth outcomes.

Thus, it is crucial to ensure the optimal nutritional status of mothers-to-be as early as possible, specifically if the mother is at risk of undernourishment.

Plumpy’Mum™ has been especially designed to address suboptimal nutritional status in pregnant and lactating women living in highly food insecure regions of the world. It provides a combination of multiple micronutrients as well as a good energy–protein balance, with the aim of having a positive effect on maternal nutritional status, birth outcomes and postnatal growth.

Enov’Mum™ has been especially designed for pregnant and lactating women whose diet may provide energy but lacks varied and nutritious food. This nutritional supplementation allows them to meet their daily requirements for key micronutrients.

These products can be distributed as part of a nutrition programme through blanket feeding in at-risk areas alongside other interventions, such as Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities to improve nutritional practices, as well as obstetric care and during regular antenatal care visits.

Child undernutrition reduction:

Ideally, infants should be exclusively breastfed until the age of 6 months. Beyond that, breast milk no longer provides all the energy and nutrients the child needs for growth. However, a healthy diet, in the form of quality complementary food, is not available or accessible in many countries. Thus, the availability of and access to quality nutrient supplements become essential to compensate for this deficit.

Small quantity lipid-based supplement (SQ-LNS) products have joined the list of world-renowned nutritional interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition. In addition to their effect on reducing mortality, a significant impact has been demonstrated in reducing the incidence of stunting, wasting, underweight, anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies in children.

The Lancet recommends supplementation with SQ-LNS worldwide to reduce child undernutrition.

The development of Enov’Nutributter® stems from the research undertaken by the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements Project (iLiNS Project) group, of which Nutriset is a founding member. Enov’Nutributter® was specifically designed to ensure nutrient adequacy, including essential fatty acids and micronutrients, in resource-poor settings. It addresses the nutritional needs of infants and children aged 6–23 months whose diets do not meet the requirements for healthy growth and development, while simultaneously upholding breastfeeding and the introduction or usual consumption of local complementary food.

It is intended to fortify complementary food of young children aged 6 to 24 months at home.

The Enov’Nutributter® product compensates for nutrient deficiencies in low-quality complementary foods. It provides proteins, micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) as well as essential fatty acids indispensable for adequate growth and development.