Business Reporter
NESTLE Zimbabwe has introduced a new cereal product to address nutritional deficiencies in pregnant and lactating mothers. The food supplement, Nestle Mom, which comes in three variants — strawberry, raisin nut and honey nut — was launched in Harare yesterday. Nestle Zimbabwe country

manager Mr Kumbirayi Katsande said the product was motivated by the need to contribute to meeting of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 in Zimbabwe.
“The supplement has been scientifically developed to provide nutritional requirements necessary during pregnancy and while breastfeeding,” said Nestle Zimbabwe.

In line with Nestle’s nutrition, health and wellness platform, Nestle Mom contains prebio, folic acid, vitamins and minerals.
Prebio provides fibre and probiotics that promote digestion and prevent constipation usually experienced by pregnant women.
Folic acid helps in preventing development of foetus and reduces risk of neural tube defects while vitamins are critical to meet the increased requirements during pregnancy.

Mr Katsande said optimal supply of vitamins and minerals in the diet during pregnancy goes beyond ensuring healthy growth of babies.
“Studies have shown that the nutrition children receive in the first 100 days of their lives from conception through to two years of age can affect their health latter in life,” said Mr Katsande.

Applying global estimates, nearly 12 000 child deaths may be attributed to maternal and child under malnutrition in Zimbabwe.
Nestle Zimbabwe corporate communications manager Mr Farai Munetsi corroborated this saying the product was meant to cater for pregnant women’s micronutrient needs.

According to the Zimbabwe National Health Survey conducted in 2010, pregnant and breastfeeding women have increased nutrients                    requirements such as energy, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, folic acid, iodine, iron and vitamins.

For instance, it has been scientifically proven that iron or folate is critical during pregnancy while Vitamin A supplements are needed most within eight months of delivering a baby.