Nutritional candy introduced to improve health

By Staff Writer

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Nutrition

An Indian government programme has identified candy as the ideal
medium for improving the nutritional intake of up to 14 million
school children.

The initiative aims to provide deprived school children with a lemon-flavoured candy that contains all the necessary vitamins required for healthy development.

Many children from poor families are fed in schools by the government, and the new programme is aimed at tackling their nutritional problems.

A low cost and well-received alternative to supplement pills, the iron-laced candy is seen as a positive step towards tackling issues of poor nutrition amongst India's poorer families.

Large numbers of children suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which are thought to damage health, impair work capacity and reduce intelligence during young children's development.

Already 5 million children have been given the candy and plans are afoot to introduce the confection, which contains vitamins A and C, iron and folic acid to a further 14 million.

The programme is being run by the government alongside the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and is somewhat different to the views taken by western governments such as the UK where there is a strong notion against confectionery in schools.

Nutritional problems faced by India are clearly different to those in the UK, however should this programme prove a success, maybe confectionery companies should take note.

Related topics Ingredients

Related news

Related products

show more

Unlock the business potential of the protein trend

Unlock the business potential of the protein trend

Content provided by Valio | 08-Feb-2024 | White Paper

Read our white paper to learn how to overcome taste and texture challenges in protein products — and how to commercialise the protein trend by making delicious...

Custom Microbiome Solutions for Dairy & Alt-Dairy Products

Custom Microbiome Solutions for Dairy & Alt-Dairy Products

Content provided by ADM: Innovation that Feeds the Future | 13-Oct-2023 | White Paper

Backed by clinical studies and perfect for use in dairy and alt-dairy applications alike, ADM’s Active Lifestyle probiotic blend, BPL1™ probiotic, and...

Consumers Want Dairy—and More!

Consumers Want Dairy—and More!

Content provided by ADM: Innovation that Feeds the Future | 06-Oct-2023 | White Paper

In the thriving dairy industry, you’re well aware of the surging demand for both dairy and non-dairy products.

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars