NEW YORK — DSM, along with Herbalife, has made a joint commitment of 20 million micronutrient powder MixMe packets as part of Future Fortified, a new campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). The global nutrition campaign was unveiled Sept. 21 during the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. It focuses on ensuring that pregnant women, new mothers and their young children receive the critical nutrients they need (such as vitamin A, iodine, iron, zinc and folic acid) for healthy pregnancies and optimal growth and development.

“Investments in improved nutrition for women and children during the 1,000-day period from pregnancy to two years are critical, as nutrition is the basic building block for the success of many health and development interventions,” said Marc Van Ameringen, executive director of GAIN. “As we kick off the Future Fortified campaign, we are eager to engage individuals, businesses and organizations to prevent malnutrition around the world, particularly for the most vulnerable populations of women and children.”

The cost-effective nutrition packets being supplied by DSM and Herbalife are expected to provide the essential vitamins and minerals for mothers to improve their children’s diets by adding vital nutrients to meals prepared at home. The packets will be distributed in Ethiopia and Kenya to enhance food assistance and fill basic nutritional gaps, GAIN said.

“DSM is committed to help alleviate micronutrient deficiencies around the world, especially among those women and children most in need,” said Stephan Tanda, managing board member for DSM. “Working in partnership with GAIN and Herbalife through the Future Fortified campaign, we will help address today’s crisis and highlight to policy makers and the public at large the importance of nutrition for the sustainable development of healthy and productive societies.”