Tate & Lyle renews partnership to bolster healthiness of Chinese children’s diets for third year

21 Dec 2023 --- Tate & Lyle, a global leader in creating healthier and tastier food and beverage solutions, reveals it will continue its partnership with the China Foundation for Rural Development to support Chinese children’s diets, promote healthier lifestyles and offer essential nutrition education.

This marks the third consecutive year of collaboration under Tate & Lyle’s “Healthy Eating, Happy Learning — Child Health Improvement Programme.”

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the China Foundation for Rural Development,” says Nick Hampton, the chief executive of Tate & Lyle. “Encouraging healthier lifestyles, offering access to healthier food and providing education on nutrition are all vital for children’s development.”

Focus on underdeveloped regions
The ongoing partnership brings tangible benefits to children in less-developed areas of the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

Students will receive nutritious snacks daily throughout the academic year, which are meant to contribute to the children’s overall well-being and academic performance. Furthermore, schools in Guizhou province are set to receive modern kitchen equipment, modernizing and upgrading the schools’ canteen facilities.

Additionally, Tate & Lyle highlights that the partnership goes beyond providing physical nutrition. Collaborating with nutrition experts from Chinese national authorities, it aims to deliver comprehensive nutrition education for students and teachers, ensuring a well-rounded approach to health and wellness.Tate & Lyle, Food Security, Nutrition Education, Prebiotic Fiber, Children’s Nutrition, China Foundation for Rural Development

“We are grateful for Tate & Lyle’s support and focus on the nutritional status of children in China,” says Zheng Wenkai, chairman of the China Foundation for Rural Development. “We look forward to working together to further strengthen children’s nutritional education, and to contribute to the country’s rural revitalization.”

Achievements so far
The company emphasizes that the partnership has already made strides in improving child health since its inception in September 2021.

So far, over 400,000 nutritional snacks have been distributed to 3,000 children across 12 schools and more than 200 pieces of new kitchen equipment have been installed in 11 schools, benefiting 3,000 students.

Moreover, in cooperation with the Chinese Nutrition Society, the program has produced custom nutrition and health education materials, including booklets and posters and an estimated 500 students and 700 teachers have attended specialized nutrition classes.

Tate & Lyle recently bolstered its presence in China with the acquisition of the prebiotic dietary fiber company, Quantum.

The company also maintains numerous partnerships across the globe, including in the US and Brazil, with initiatives focused on children. In addition, it is working to advance nutrition commercially through reengineering ultra-processed foods.

Edited by William Bradford Nichols