FrieslandCampina Embarks on In-Depth Nutritional Study in Southeast Asia

Over 16,000 respondents across Southeast Asia are expected to participate in FrieslandCampina’s scientific nutritional study to identify opportunities and gaps in enhancing health and nutrition.

3/14/2011 --- FrieslandCampina has embarked on a comprehensive and robust nutritional study across key markets in Southeast Asia to better understand the nutritional well-being, needs and patterns among children 12 years and below. Nationwide surveys will be conducted in collaboration with leading nutritional institutes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The in-depth and scientifically rigorous nutritional study is a first-of-its-kind in the region, and encompasses dietary profiling and nutrient intake assessments, biochemical analysis of blood, assessments of body composition and physical activity. Results of the nutrition study will be used to further improve the formulation of FrieslandCampina’s products to support better health and nutrition.

Over 16,000 respondents across Southeast Asia are expected to participate in FrieslandCampina’s scientific nutritional study to identify opportunities and gaps in enhancing health and nutrition. The study is being conducted in partnership with leading local academic and nutritional institutes in Indonesia (PERSAGI – Persautuan Ahli Gizi Indonesia), Malaysia (UKM – University Kebangsaan Malaysia), Thailand (MAHIDOL – Mahidol University) and Vietnam (National Institute of Nutrition– Vien Dinh Duong).

“For many generations, FrieslandCampina has been the trusted provider of quality dairy nutrition for consumers, with household brands such as Dutch Lady in Malaysia and Vietnam, Frisian Flag in Indonesia and Foremost in Thailand playing an important part in their everyday lives”, says Jan Willem Kivits, Marketing Director at the FrieslandCampina Consumer Products International business group. “We aspire to help people move forward in life with our dairy nutrition, and are committed to helping our consumers maintain and improve their nutritional well-being with the goodness of milk.”

“We understand that each local market has specific nutritional needs based on unique requirements and this upcoming nutritional study will allow us to achieve an in-depth understanding so as to better serve the local communities”, explains Jan Willem Kivits. “Through this study, we also intend to be able to better inform consumers and encourage them to improve their nutrition and lead more healthy lives.”

Conducted by local research institutes, the scientifically rigorous study will cover extensive research protocol parameters. Over the next 12 months, health and nutrition professionals from the respective local research institutes will be visiting respondents 12 years of age and below nationwide in the four countries.

Using recognised scientific measurements, the nutritional study will cover three main areas:
• Dietary profiling and nutrient intake assessments, including food intake, bone density, and cognition;
• Biochemical analysis of blood, including analysis of iron status, vitamins, lipid profile and blood pressure;
• Assessment of body composition and physical activity, including measurements on weight, height, and hand grip strength.

“The extensive scale and rigor of FrieslandCampina’s nutrition study has not been seen in recent years. Taking an evidence-based approach to nutrition, the study will allow parents, governments and nutrition professionals to gain in-depth understanding into the needs and patterns of children’s nutrition today. It will also enable them to translate the insights into informed decisions and actions that will benefit the wider community and generations to come”, says Associate Prof Poh Bee Koon of the University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). “We are pleased to be FrieslandCampina’s partner of choice in conducting this important piece of research.”

All data gathered from the nutrition study will be processed and analysed by scientists of the respective nutritional institutes with the support and multidisciplinary expertise of FrieslandCampina’s global R&D scientists. Due to the comprehensive and robust nature of the study, it is anticipated that data collation through to analysis and reporting will span a 12-month period. Results from the in-depth and scientifically rigorous study are expected to become available as of the first quarter of 2012.