- 89% of the children in the program experienced improved or stable growth parameters* 1 ; 95.6% of mothers and caregivers reported an increase in their children's appetite
- Bowl of Growth Program focuses on providing nutrition and education for malnourished children in Pune, while also raising awareness about this crucial issue in India. This initiative is in alignment with the state and national goals aimed at addressing child malnutrition
- Bowl of Growth Program to be expanded to Mumbai, impacting 4,000 children overall
- The program underscores PepsiCo’s principle of ‘Partnership of Progress’ through its strategic collaboration with Govt. of Maharashtra
Mumbai, 16 July 2024: The PepsiCo Foundation, in collaboration with PepsiCo R&D and Quaker, has
released the ‘Building A Healthier Tomorrow’ report at an
event in Mumbai, highlighting the success of the Quaker
‘Bowl of Growth’ program. Launched in 2023 with NGO
MAMTA HIMC, the initiative aims to uplift community
health by supporting 1,000 malnourished children aged 3-5
in Mawal & Mulshi Blocks, Pune District, Maharashtra.
The program places the mother and child at the heart of its
interventions. It has empowered parents and caregivers
with knowledge and resources to provide balanced
nutrition to children. A key focus of the program is to
intervene during the early stages of malnutrition to prevent
its progression to severe forms, ensuring a healthier future
for children.
Aligned with PepsiCo’s principle of ‘Partnership of
Progress’, the Quaker ‘Bowl of Growth’ program
strategically partnered with the Government of Maharashtra to ensure the scalability and
sustainability of nutrition interventions. Building on the success of the first phase, Quaker will
continue the program in Pune, reaching an additional 2,000 children, with further expansion plans
for Mumbai, aiming to benefit 4,000 children.
Program Impact and Key Findings
- 98% of children consistently ate
at least three-quarters of the
‘panjiri’ made with Quaker
Multigrain & Millet-based
recipe.
- 89% of the children in the
program experienced improved
or stable growth parameters.
- 95.6% of mothers & caregivers
reported an increase in their
children’s appetite.
The event witnessed participation from Shri Kailash Pagare, Commissioner, ICDS, Government of
Maharashtra; Dr. Muralidhar P. Tambe, Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, BJ
Govt. Medical College, Pune; Dr. Pietro Antonio Tataranni, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior
Vice President, Life Sciences, PepsiCo; Kareem Mohamed, International Programs Lead, PepsiCo
Foundation; Mijanur Rahman, R&D Region Senior Director, PepsiCo India and South Asia; Rinkesh
Satija, Senior Director and Supply Chain Head, PepsiCo India; and Dr Sunil Mehra, Executive
Director, MAMTA HIMC; Dr Govind Chaudhary, Deputy Director & State Nodal Officer for Child
Health, Govt of Maharashtra. Dr. Bhushan Gagrani (IAS), Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) shared a video message as part of the event.
Congratulating PepsiCo India, Shri Kailash Pagare, Commissioner, ICDS, Government of Maharashtra said, “The improvement in children's nutritional health by the methodology of education, awareness and supplementation of nutrition is truly encouraging. These achievements highlight the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing malnutrition. The Government of Maharashtra fully supports and appreciates such initiatives as it aligns with our state's vision for a healthier future.”
Dr. Bhushan Gagrani (IAS), Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) in his video message about the program, praised PepsiCo India for its
dedication and commitment in launching the impactful 'Bowl of Growth' program in Pune,
which aligns seamlessly with the state government's efforts to eradicate malnutrition. He
emphasized that the success of this initiative underscores the strength of public-private
partnerships and stressed the importance of scaling this program to reach more children
across Maharashtra.
C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Philanthropy for PepsiCo, commented on the significance of the program, “At the PepsiCo Foundation, we combat food insecurity through initiatives like meal delivery, supporting food banks, and regenerative farming. Malnutrition is a global issue, and proactive intervention is crucial to address the unique challenges faced in different regions. The Quaker ‘Bowl of Growth’ report highlights our commitment to improving childhood nutrition, showing significant gains in nutritional intake and knowledge. Our partnership with MAMTA HIMC has positively impacted community health in Pune, Maharashtra. Additionally, the support received from the local administration at each and every step over the last year has been instrumental in the implementation of the program. By addressing food insecurity at a local level, we aim to help create sustainable and long-lasting change in the communities we serve.”
Dr. Pietro Antonio Tataranni, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Life Sciences,
PepsiCo added, “Through our pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) commitment, we are dedicated to offering
positive choices that benefit people and our planet. The impact findings of the ‘Bowl of Growth’
program highlight PepsiCo’s efforts in supporting underserved communities in India. The results are
particularly encouraging, with 89% of the children in the program experiencing improved or stable
growth parameters. Additionally, 95.6% of mothers & caregivers reported an increase in their
children’s appetite. These numbers are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our teams
over the past year. It's heartening to see that the enrolled children loved the panjiri, with nearly each
child consistently consuming at least three-quarters of the provided recipe.”
Key Interventions of the Quaker ‘Bowl of Growth’ Program:
- Nutrition: Developed a local recipe ‘panjiri’, made with a specialized Quaker multigrain & millets-based product with 18 vitamins & minerals.
- Awareness: Conducted thematic engagement sessions and released a program video on the importance of nutrition and millets.
- Education: Hosted daily workshops and introduced an illustrated comic book emphasizing balanced nutrition.
Quaker’s 'Bowl of Growth' initiative aligns with PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) ambition and ‘Food
for Good’ efforts, aiming to provide nutritious food to 50 million people by 2030.
The report launch was complemented by 'Fuel the Future,' an educational initiative aimed at
empowering community members. Through this national competition, Quaker, a brand that stands
for nutrition, aims to empower students of India's Nutrition and Allied Science College to be the
changemakers, drive awareness and educate communities about malnutrition.
ABOUT PEPSICO FOUNDATION
The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we're focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water, and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsico.com/pepsico-foundation
ABOUT PEPSICO INDIA
PepsiCo entered India in 1989 and has grown to become one of the largest food and beverage
businesses in India. PepsiCo India’s diverse portfolio includes iconic brands like Pepsi, Lay’s, Kurkure,
Tropicana 100%, Gatorade and Quaker. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in
Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Pep+ “Winning with Pep+” reflects our ambition
to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business. We
believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our
planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global
company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. In 2009, PepsiCo India
achieved a significant milestone, by becoming the first business to achieve ‘Positive Water Balance’
in the beverage world, a fact verified by Deloitte Touché Tohmatsu India Pvt. Ltd. The company has
been Water Positive since then. For more information, please visit www.pepsicoindia.co.in
ABOUT MAMTA HIMC
MAMTA-Health Institute for Mother and Child has been innovating in research methods for
strengthening health systems and implementing public health initiatives for more than 30 years. It is
a registered non-profit organization under the Society Registration Act, 1860. It is also registered
under the FCRA and has completed all the required compliances to manage and implement projects
in India with foreign donations and receipts for the next five years. The organization has 700+
employees at present. The Organization has its branches in Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Delhi,
Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Patna, Shimla & Pune.
MAMTA HIMC takes pride as an implementation science institution, which works in coordination
with state and central governments and produces significant evidence, which is reflected in either
policy or national programs. Apart from Health system strengthening (HSS) including system
partnerships MAMTA HIMC’s expertise also lies in implementation reach, measurement to generate
evidence, and sharing it at various platforms with a focus on publications in peer-reviewed journals.
The organization has a separate Research & Evidence Generation unit, to support evidence
generation, which eventually supplements policy initiatives and system strengthening. The
organization has more than 150 publications in various peer-reviewed journals.