DSM Product Factsheet MixMe

The challenge of hidden hunger Over 2 billion people all around the world suffer from hidden hunger, which means that although they may have enough calories to live, their basic diet fails to provide sufficient levels of essential vitamins and minerals to allow them to live healthy lives. Through a long-standing partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), and engagement with other strategic stakeholders, DSM uses its Bright Science to tackle hidden hunger and improve lives for generations to come. MixMe as part of the solution MixMe is a product innovation developed by DSM in 2008 to improve nutrition in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). It was initially introduced as part of the emergency relief effort for those affected by Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh. Today, millions of sachets are distributed every year worldwide, together with the WFP, and other international development organizations.

What is MixMe? MixMe is a micronutrient powder which can be added to a meal or drink to ensure that people receive essential daily vitamins and minerals, known as micronutrients, in their diet. This approach is commonly known as in-home or point-of-use fortification, as the sachets can be used in the home, and simply mixed with regular meals. MixMe is suitable in addressing malnutrition in infants older than 6 months and young children, as it does not change the taste, color or consistency of the food. When MixMe is introduced into a community for the first time it is usually supported by a social marketing campaign, to make sure that families and caregivers are educated in its correct use and understand the role MixMe plays in improving nutrition and health. What does it contain? MixMe can be formulated to contain micronutrients in different amounts, to ensure it targets the nutritional deficiencies of the specific community or population group where it is to be used. MixMe always contains at least 3 fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E) and at least 8 water soluble vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, panthotenic acid, niacin and vitamin C) together with iron and zinc. The micronutrient content of the daily dose of MixMe always meets at least half the recommended nutritional intake (RNI) of vitamins for the target recipients. Some formulations of MixMe also contain phytase, an enzyme which ensures that iron and zinc are still effective at low doses to reduce deficiency. All the ingredients of MixMe are nonallergenic and conform to Codex international food standards. How is it packaged? MixMe is available in small single serving foil sachets which contain 1g of the micronutrient mix. It also comes in multiple serving sachets for use in settings such as schools. The special lightweight protective packaging is formulated to withstand challenging climatic and transportation conditions, and it is suitable for use in tropical regions, as well as for disaster relief efforts. DSMs humanitarian initiative, Sight and Life, is currently supporting an innovation challenge to improve the sustainability of the MixMe packaging by minimizing the environmental impact of used sachets in communities that lack adequate waste disposal infrastructures.

Making an impact The WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) all widely recommend the use of micronutrient powders as a strategy in addressing malnutrition amongst children. Furthermore, the Copenhagen Consensus, a group of the worlds leading economists, has ranked bundled micronutrient interventions as the most cost-effective way of tackling many of the global development challenges. To date, DSM has worked with the WFP to deliver MixMe sachets in countries such as Kenya, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. Together with Herbalife, DSM has also recently donated 20 million sachets of MixMe as part of the global nutrition campaign, Future Fortified which is helping tackle the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. Research studies and impact assessments support the benefits of micronutrient powders, although work is continuing to improve methodologies for implementation and accurately measuring their impact. Iron levels (one of the main measurements used) can be influenced by many factors, and results have therefore been varied across some programs. Findings from assessing the impact of large-scale micronutrient powder (MixMe) distribution, amongst Bhutans refugee children (aged 6-59 months) in Nepal revealed a relative decrease of 40% in the prevalence of stunting amongst children; a decrease in the prevalence of moderate anaemia; and a large decrease in diarrhea morbidity. A potential positive impact on stunting was also evidenced in Kenya after micronutrient powders were introduced in the Kakuma refugee camp. Additional evaluations corroborate the use of home-fortification in improving the iron status of children and lactating mothers, but other results showed less significant improvements, highlighting the importance of further implementation research. 1

For further information visit: www.dsm.com or www.sightandlife.org

See Food and Nutrition Bulletin, vol 32, no 3, 2011, The United Nations University