San Miguel Foods reports lower malnutrition rates in expanded health program

San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI) has reported a significant reduction in malnutrition among children covered by its expanded mother-and-child health program, “Happy si Mommy, Malusog si Baby,” now reaching over 1,000 beneficiaries in 24 barangays nationwide.

Data from the program show that 89% of children enrolled have reached normal height and weight, underweight cases have dropped to 2%, and only 9% remain classified as malnourished. The initiative supports mothers and infants during the first 1,000 days of life — from pregnancy to age two — a critical period for early development and long-term health.

Initially launched in 2022 in nine pilot barangays with 254 mother-and-child pairs, the program has since grown to cover more than 400 families in Luzon, over 300 in the Visayas, and more than 250 in Mindanao.

The initiative is implemented in partnership with San Miguel Foundation (SMF), local government units, and private sector partners. It provides prenatal checkups, ultrasounds, maternal health education, and Mingo Meals — a fortified food made of rice, mung beans, and moringa, developed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) and produced by the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation.

“These are the kinds of outcomes we hope for when we commit to long-term, community-based work,” said San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang. “Good nutrition starts before birth, and we want to make sure mothers and children in underprivileged communities receive sustained support — not just one-time assistance.”

In 2024, as the first batch of children transitioned to toddlerhood, San Miguel Foods distributed an additional three to six months’ worth of Mingo Meals in new flavors, designed to suit changing taste preferences.

The program is part of San Miguel’s broader sustainability agenda, which includes a commitment to uplift the lives of 15 million Filipinos by 2030.

Beyond direct health support, the program also focuses on training barangay health workers (BHWs). To date, 102 BHWs have been trained through webinars led by DOST-FNRI, covering topics such as breastfeeding, postpartum care, and early childhood nutrition. These health workers then cascade knowledge to participating mothers in their communities. (MICKA BAUTISTA)