Large Indian Food and Dairy Company Commits to Fighting Malnutrition

Large Indian Food and Beverage Company Commits to Fighting Malnutrition

Mother Dairy, a large Indian food and dairy company, is fortifying close to 50 percent of its vegetable oil product portfolio with vitamins A and D. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has been working closely with the company since 2007 to make the move to fortification so consumers affected by malnutrition can benefit from more nutritious food products. GAIN caught up with Mr. Dinesh Agrawal, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, to find out more about the effort. 

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN): Why did you make a commitment to fighting malnutrition? 
Dinesh Agrawal (DA): Edible oil is an essential aspect of cooking and is used in most meals in India. Since it is such an integral part of the kitchen, fortifying oils is a way we can make sure we reach vulnerable people with better nutrition. Our brand of fortified edible oils is called Dhara. Dhara’s strong distribution in areas with high rates of malnutrition further helps us act as a catalyst in the fight against malnutrition. 
  
GAIN: Which of your vegetable oils are fortified? Do you have plans to fortify other edible oils as well as other products?
DA: Currently, two types of oils out of six in the Dhara portfolio are fortified - refined vegetable oil and groundnut oil. We are evaluating the possibility of fortifying other types as well, details of which will be shared once they are commercialized. Our edible oils reach close to 20 million consumers across ten Indian States.  
 
GAIN: How has GAIN helped you to introduce or strengthen your fortification program? What kind of support could it provide in the future?
DA: GAIN provides us information on food fortification and shares best global practices in nutrition. The organization also helps us with advocacy about the benefits of fortification to key stakeholders such as the federal government. GAIN could help us connect with State governments, NGOs and corporations with similar goals.
 
GAIN: What makes you motivated to fight malnutrition?
DA: Overcoming malnutrition requires a collaborative and long term effort. We strongly feel that education to consumers, awareness of more nutritious products and technical & financial support will help scale up this global issue. As responsible corporate citizens and by virtue of our presence in core consumption categories, we are well positioned to look at ways and means to provide better nutrition to our consumers. 

Find out about other efforts by large corporations in India to fight malnutrition.