Workforce nutrition: DSM, Griffith and Unilever gear up for healthy employees

23 Jun 2022 --- A number of companies are pledging to boost workforce nutrition programs aimed at impacting healthy nutrition knowledge, with an eye on employee productivity. The project is driven by a partnership between the Workforce Nutrition Alliance (WNA), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF).

The latest case study booklet examines the workforce nutrition programs of 11 companies, including giants such as Google, Unilever and Royal DSM. Also included are the nutrition workforce practices of Ajinomoto, Quorn Foods, Eat Well Global, Griffith Foods, Indofood, Ofi, Kao and Olam. 

Nutrition is important for workers, aThe aim is to deliver healthy nutrition to over three million employees.nd “it also makes business sense, as workforce nutrition delivers proven benefits,” Mirjam Kneepkens, senior associate, GAIN, tells NutritionInsight. 

“A healthier workforce results in better productivity, lower absenteeism and higher employee retention and staff loyalty,” says Kneepkens. “These provide the combination of lower costs and a positive impact to the bottom line.” 

Tackling poor nutrition
Workplaces are seen as the ideal spot for intervention and can be used to improve the well-being and health of workers, their families and society, as workers spend one-third of their lives at work, the WNA states.

The booklet explores the types of nutrition programs these companies have implemented along with their impacts and challenges. The included case studies illustrate the progress the participant companies have made within the nutrition field.

One in nine people experience some form of undernourishment, and one in three are overweight or obese globally, according to the WNA. This can have detrimental effects on the health of a workforce, including vitamin deficiencies and diabetes. 

“Workforce nutrition is an essential tool for all companies that understand their responsibility to look after their first customers, their employees,” affirms Kneepkens. 

Concrete solutions
The WNA states that the purpose is not just to inform but to provide actions businesses can take to improve the health and nutrition of their workers. For example, DSM offers workplace food, in line with the guidelines the WNA has given on healthy food, in most of its worksites. WNA says that an addedChallenges include the cost of living and rising food prices. benefit of DSM’s program is the “enthusiasm” it has generated among its younger employees. 

In addition to offering nutritious food at its work sites, Unilever has also instituted what it calls the “Healthier U” program. This program helps workers to hit global health targets and is entirely voluntary. Employees can receive a clinical evaluation and lab tests. They can then enter the program based on their individual health risk score. 

Other companies, such as Griffith Foods, offer a free and voluntary online learning program developed by registered dieticians. This provides their employees with education on basic nutrition information like how it affects overall health and can impact some health conditions.

Reaping the benefits of a healthy workforce
Recent studies have linked deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin D with non-communicable diseases like heart and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and even revealed that it can contribute to more restful sleep. 

Diabetes has long been known to be impacted by nutrition and diet. Some studies have even found it may be the key to controlling the effects of symptoms of the disease. 

The WNA calls for even more companies and organizations to join them in creating a healthier workforce. 

For their part, they aim to continually offer new tools that will help assess workforce health and to help companies plan or improve their workforce nutrition programs. 

Additionally, they have offered online classes for HR professionals. The classes are designed “to improve their workforce nutrition program within one (or more) of our four themes: Healthy food at work, Nutrition education, Breastfeeding support, or Nutrition health checks,” says Kneepkens.

By William Bradford Nichols