Nestlé tackles South Africa’s hidden hunger, one meal at a time
From fortified breakfasts to simple, balanced dinners, the path to better health starts with everyday choices.
What if South Africa’s biggest obstacle to progress is not in classrooms or workplaces, but in kitchens?
This World Food Day, on October 16, and National Nutrition Week, running from October 9 to 15, Nestlé South Africa’s nutrition, health, and wellness manager Anne-Marie De Beer reminds us that what we eat shapes our nation’s future.
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Despite having enough food, on paper, millions of South Africans still go hungry in a different way, through hidden hunger, the silent lack of vitamins and minerals essential for growth and learning.
De Beer said: “The Human Sciences Research Council reports that over half of Gauteng households are food insecure, and more than 50% don’t have steady access to safe, nutritious food.”
She added that adolescents, especially girls, are among the hardest hit. “Iron and zinc deficiencies affect their energy, focus, and overall health, and those gaps ripple into adulthood, limiting productivity and potential.”
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De Beer believes the solution lies in small, everyday shifts: Fortified cereals for breakfast, affordable iron-rich meals, like chicken livers, and family dinners that balance nutrients without stretching budgets.
To make that easier, Nestlé has launched GoodNes, a free digital platform offering locally inspired recipes, science-based nutrition tips, and meal planning tools to help families eat better, even on tight budgets.
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