India, April 9 -- As part of its efforts to make good nutrition affordable and accessible to those who need it most, Nestle is introducingBear Brand Milk N' Soy, a powdered milk and soy drink for school-age children, in the Philippines.

Nearly three billion people globally cannot afford a healthy diet1, and many do not have access to good nutrition. Because school-age children are in a phase of significant growth and mental development, they need a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes proteins, vitamins and minerals from sources such as grains, vegetables, fruits and dairy. In the Philippines, undernutrition in school-age children remains a significant public health issue. Nestle aims to help tackle the problem withBear Brand Milk N' Soy, which combines the goodness of milk with the affordability of high-quality plant proteins, such as those from soy.

"We have createdBear Brand Milk N' Soyto meet the specific nutritional requirements and taste preferences of school-age children and have made it affordable for Filipino households," said Serena Aboutboul, head of the Nutrition Strategic Business Unit. "This great-tasting new drink further expands the trustedBear Brandrange in the Philippines, which already delivers millions of servings of micronutrient-fortified milk drinks to children each day. We believe that there is significant growth potential in expanding the benefits ofBear Brandto older children in their school-going years."

Milk is an important source of nutrients like protein, calcium and vitamins, while soy provides high-quality protein with essential amino acids, healthy fats, fibers and other nutrients.

Isabelle Bureau-Franz, head of NestleR&Dfor Nutrition, explained, "Soy proteins are not as soluble as dairy proteins and present a beany flavor and gritty texture when combined with milk. However, our innovative enzyme-based technology enables us to seamlessly blend both dairy and plant proteins, resulting in nutritious and affordable beverages with an excellent taste and a smooth, creamy texture."

Similar products for school-age children have already been rolled out in Nigeria under theNidobrand and are now being expanded across Asia, other parts of Africa and Latin America.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from FoodTechBiz.